Ten-man Wolves survived a late scare to make it back-to-back league wins at home to Brentford in the Championship.

After Carl Ikeme had tipped Jota’s shot onto the post Nouha Dicko gave Wolves the lead with his second goal in as many games. Bakary Sako hit the bar and a free-kick saved before a James Tarkowski own goal doubled the home side’s lead. But after Kevin McDonald saw red for a second bookable offence, Danny Batth’s late on goal ensured a nervy finish. Ikeme saved brilliantly from Moses Odubajo and Jonathan Douglas hit the post for the visitors deep into added time as Wolves clung on.

With Wolves having performed so well in their 1-0 win at Watford on Boxing Day, Jackett named an unchanged starting line-up. Jota had scored Brentford’s fourth in last month’s rout and only the agility of Ikeme prevented him from drawing first blood here. The Wolves goalkeeper getting his fingertips to the winger’s right foot half volley and tipping it onto the post. It proved a big moment as 90 seconds later Wolves were ahead. Sako flicked the ball on and Dicko raced clear to finish past Bees custodian David Button for his sixth goal of the season. That was it for attempts on goal until Alex Pritchard let fly with an effort from distance which went well wide of Ikeme’s goal. Kevin McDonald was much closer with a deflected effort which had Button scrambling. From the corner Sako went closer still, exchanging passes from McDonald before moving infield

and unleashing a shot from 25 yards which was deflected up and onto the bar. Pritchard nodded wide from Odubajo’s cross and as the visitors began to enjoy a stranglehold on possession, was denied by a fine block after meeting his knockdown with a fierce drive from just inside the box. Wolves were starting to hang on as half-time approached and only a fine Ikeme save prevented Iorfa from putting through his own net as the full-back flicked on a Pritchard cross. Yet Wolves could have seen their lead doubled in stoppage time as Sako drilled a free-kick under the wall, Button saved with his legs and was relieved to see the rebound go to safety. Alan Judge shot straight at Ikeme in the opening minute of the second half, before Sako sliced wide at a corner. The pattern of the game was similar to in the first half, with Brentford enjoying the lion’s share of possession but Wolves looking dangerous on the counter. In one such move, Edwards saw his cross deflected just out of the reach of Dicko before van La Parra’s shot on goal was blocked. Eventually they made one count. Dave Edwards sprang clear down the right and crossed for Rajiv van La Parra. He thundered a header against the underside the bar with McDonald prodding the ball home on the follow up despite the best efforts by Tarkowski on the line to keep it out. The goal was somewhat harshly awarded as an own goal to the defender and having lost the credit, McDonald’s day then got worse. He was shown a second yellow card for bringing down Judge meaning Wolves played the final 14 minutes a man down. Sako almost gave them breathing room but saw his drive flash inches wide of the far post. A nervy final few minutes then ensued after Bidwell’s cross deflected off Batth and into the net. Ikeme denied Odubajo when he pushed the full-back’s drive wide before Douglas

flicked a header onto the post in the dying seconds.

Beeb

Nouha Dicko struck for the second time in consecutive games as 10-man Wolves held on to beat Brentford at Molineux. Dicko opened the scoring when he raced onto a long

ball and fired a low shot past Bees goalkeeper David Button. A James Tarkowski own goal doubled the hosts' lead before Kevin McDonald was sent off for a second bookable

offence. Danny Batth put the ball in his own net to give Brentford hope but they were unable to equalise, leaving Wolves three points off the play-off places. After a run of

five consecutive defeats, Wolves have now picked up ten points from their last four games. Brentford almost took the lead early on when Carl Ikeme tipped Jota's strike onto

the post, but it was the home side who went ahead almost immediately afterwards. A high, looping ball forward from Kortney Hause was latched onto by Dicko, who beat the

offside trap and struck a composed, low shot past Button. Brentford had the better of the play either side of the break, but Alex Pritchard heading wide was the closest they

came to an equaliser. Wolves doubled their lead when Rajiv van La Parra headed onto the crossbar and, as the ball bounced down into the box, the on-rushing McDonald

trickled an effort towards goal only for Brentford's Tarkowski to send it into his own net. McDonald was then shown a second yellow card for a late tackle and the Bees found

new belief. They pulled one back when Jake Bidwell's low centre took a cruel deflection off Batth and went past Ikeme for an own goal. Andre Gray struck the post in added

time but Wolves held on to secure a third win from their last four games, while the Bees fell to their second straight defeat.

Wolves' strike partnership

When Bakary Sako and Nouha Dicko have both started, Wolves have won eight, drawn two and lost two. When they have not started, Wolves have won two, drawn five and

lost five.

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP

Venue: Molineux Date: Sunday, 28 December Kick-off: 15:00 GMT

Coverage: Watch highlights on The Football League Show; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC local radio; text commentary on the BBC Sport website

LINEUP, BOOKINGS (4) & SUBS (6)

Wolverhampton Wanderers

01 Ikeme

33 Iorfa

06 Batth

05 Stearman

30 Hause

19 Price

11 McDonald Dismissed after an earlier

17 van La Parra (Clarke - 85' )

04 Edwards

10 Sako (Doherty - 90' )

40 Dicko (Henry - 65' )

Substitutes

02 Doherty

07 Henry

09 Clarke

12 Graham

14 Evans

23 Ebanks-Landell

29 Kuszczak

Brentford

27 Button

10 Odubajo

26 Tarkowski

05 Craig

03 Bidwell

08 Douglas

23 Peleteiro Ramallo (Toral - 65' )

21 Pritchard (Saunders - 82' )

18 Judge Booked

15 Dallas (Diagouraga - 65' Booked )

19 Gray

Substitutes

06 Dean

07 Saunders

16 Bonham

17 Toral

20 Diagouraga

28 Yennaris

39 Proschwitz

Ref: Kevin Wright

Att: 23,598

MATCH STATS

Possession

63%

37%

90mins

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Brentford

Shots

1317

On target

35

Corners

69

Fouls

166

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:56 Full time

Full Time

Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Brentford 1. 90:00 +4:28 Corner, Brentford. Conceded by James Henry. 90:00 +3:57 Andre Gray (Brentford) hits the right post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Sam Saunders with a cross. 90:00 +3:17 Attempt blocked. Moses Odubajo (Brentford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sam Saunders. 90:00 +1:03 Attempt blocked. Sam Saunders (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. 90:00 +0:44 Attempt saved. Moses Odubajo (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. 89:45 Sub, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Matt Doherty replaces Bakary Sako. 89:25 Corner, Brentford. Conceded by James Henry. 88:08 Attempt saved. Jake Bidwell (Brentford) header from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Moses Odubajo with a cross. 86:48 Goal scored Own Goal by Danny Batth, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Brentford 1.

Vicarage Road is a ground which holds many fine memories for Wolves boss Kenny Jackett - and tonight he was provided with another one to savour as Wolves won for just the second time in nine games. It was a thoroughly deserved three points, though it was not achieved without some nail-biting moments, as Wolves held onto the slender lead given to them by returning striker Nouha Dicko 12 minutes into the second half. A combination of poor finishing and superb goalkeeping from Heurelho Gomes had denied them from going ahead much earlier and what would have been a comfortable win. Dicko was guilty for perhaps the worst miss in the opening half but made no mistake when he was found six yards out by the excellent Rajiv van La Parra. Watford hit the bar twice in the final 20 minutes through substitute Odion Ighalo but an equaliser would have been cruel on the visitors. You did not need to be an expert in mind reading to guess Jackett’s thoughts when the sodden head coach appeared on the stadium’s big screen with ten minutes remaining in the first half. It came just moments after Nouha Dicko had missed a golden chance to put the visitors ahead after being sent clean through on goal, the final glaring chance of a half where Gomes had denied Dave Edwards, Rajiv Van La Parra and Bakary Sako. The latter was a world class save as he somehow got his fingertips to a 25 yard drive which was about to creep under his bar. It was the kind of moment which made you wonder if it would be Wolves’ night, before Dicko made sure it was. As expected, the striker was back in the starting line-up for the first time in more than two months after finally seeing off a hamstring problem. Danny Graham dropped to the bench, while Jack Price replaced James Henry in Wolves’ only other change. Watford made three changes and – contrary to some reports in the build-up to the game – former Walsall hitman Troy Deeney was fit to play. The 26-year-old partnered Albion flop Matej Vydra up front for the Hornets. It was Vydra who had the first effort of the game with a shot which was blocked by Richard Stearman after Price had been robbed in midfield. Wolves were asking soon asking some serious questions of the home defence and went close to breaking the deadlock on now fewer than six occasions inside the opening 20 minutes. First van La Parra side-footed inches wide after Sako had won possession out on the left flank and found his fellow wideman in space on the edge of the box. Youngster Dominic Iorfa then should have done better than hook the ball over from eight yards out after exchanging passes with Kevin McDonald inside the box. When Dave Edwards did test Gomes moments later, the keeper proved equal to his first time shot and tipped it round the post. The Brazilian, as he has so often done his career, nearly followed the sublime with the ridiculous as he made a hash of gathering Sako’s scuffed corner with no Wolves man able to force the loose ball home. But he was soon back on his game, producing a wonder stop to tip over Sako’s 25 yard drive which looked destined for the top corner. His early work wasn’t finished there and moments later he was down again to tip a Van La Parra snapshot round the upright. From the corner, Edwards got his head to the ball at the near post but again Gomes was there to push the ball away. After having done all the attacking, Wolves were suddenly asked to do some defending as Batth blocked from Daniel Tozser. Juan Carlos Paredes also had an effort deflected wide as the hosts served notice of their own attacking threat Yet the best chances kept coming at the other end and just past the half hour mark Dicko squandered a golden opportunity to put them ahead. Van La Parra found Sako in the middle of the park and having spotted the run of his fellow Mali international, he weighted the perfect through pass to put the striker in the clear. But Dicko fluffed his lines, sliding his shot past Gomes but also wide of the post as the half ended goal-less. Wolves were quickly into their stride early in the second period and Van La Parra should have found Dicko in space inside the box but under-hit his cross. Carl Ikeme was then called into his first save of the game as Vydra bounced a volley into his arms, with the hosts switching to four at the back in a big to negate the influence of van La Parra and Sako. It didn’t work, as van La Parra played the major role as Wolves finally broke the deadlock three minutes before the hour. The winger drove into the left-hand side of the box and squared for an unmarked Dicko, who simply couldn’t miss from six yards out. Watford might have drawn level when Deeney headed into the box and several players seemed to miss the chance to bundle the loose ball home. Bassong then should definitely have levelled things up but failed to make clean connection from three yards out after Wolves failed to clear a corner, allowing goalkeeper Carl Ikeme to gather. Deeney then fired an effort which Ikeme was able to watch round the far post. The goalkeeper was called into action to deny substitute Odion Ighalo, pushing his rasping effort onto the bar as Wolves began to sit deeper and Watford pressed for a leveller. The closing stages saw a three minute substitute appearance from Tommy Rowe before Ighalo lashed an effort onto the bar from 12 yards out as the clock ticked into time added on. But Wolves held on to extend their unbeaten run to three games ahead of Brentford’s visit to Molineux tomorrow.

Beeb

Wolves moved to within four points of the Championship's top six after Nouha Dicko's winner at Watford. The visitors carved out a string of first-half chances, Hornets keeper Heurelho Gomes denying David Edwards and Kortney Hause with fine saves. They went ahead when Rajiv van La Parra's pull back allowed Dicko to score from six yards. Watford substitute Odion Ighalo twice went close towards the end on a frustrating day for the hosts. The Hornets, seeking a fourth straight success, were outplayed before the interval as the visitors wasted numerous chances. Former Tottenham keeper Gomes showed fine reactions to get down and divert a close-range effort from Edwards behind. The 33-year-old then produced a spectacular full-length save to tip over an excellent long-range strike from Bakary Sako. Dicko wasted a great chance when put clean through, before the 22-year-old broke the deadlock from close range after Van La Parra showed good vision to roll the ball into his path. Watford pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages. Visiting keeper Carl Ikeme pushed Ighalo's shot on to his crossbar at the near post. And the Watford substitute was frustrated again when he rattled the woodwork with Ikeme beaten.

Danny Batth’s late leveller stopped Wolves being left to rue ‘referee justice’ for the second home game running as they salvaged a point against 10-man Brighton.

Batth pounced to fire home a corner two minutes from time to cancel out Darren Bent’s early header for the Seagulls. However, the big story was once again the officials, just like two weeks earlier when Mike Jones incurred Wolves’ wrath by sending off Rajiv van La Parra in the 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth. This time, ref Darren Bond awarded Wolves an early second-half penalty only to change his mind after a chat with his assistant and instead book half-time substitute Nouha Dicko for diving. Bond at least angered both sets of supporters equally, sending off Brighton’s Bruno Saltor a few minutes later and Wolves’ pressure finally paid off with Batth’s 88th minute equaliser. Wolves were unchanged from the side that started at Sheffield Wednesday last weekend when Wanderers broke their five-match losing streak. It meant Leon Clarke – last Saturday’s match-winner after coming off the bench – plus Dicko and Ethan Ebanks-Landell, both now fit after injury, all had to settle for places among the substitutes. The struggling Seagulls, meanwhile, made three changes from their 1-0 home loss to Millwall as they looked to end a rotten run of only one win in the last 17 league games that has seen them drop into the relegation zone. In came Aston Villa loanee Joe Bennett and skipper Inigo Calderon in defence, while Dutchman Danny Holla was recalled to the Brighton midfield in place of another Villa loan man, Gary Gardner. Albion’s third loan Villain, striker Bent, kept his place up front. And it was former England man Bent who gave Brighton an early lead to bring the game to life after a dull opening ten minutes. Bent stole in ahead of a static Wolves defence to stoop and head home Calderon’s right-wing cross for his second goal in four games since joining Brighton on loan from Villa. Wolves were listless and took 25 minutes to register their first opportunity as Kortney Hause’s cross skidded wide off the head of Dave Edwards who could not quite grow the inches needed to meet it fully. They should have been level four minutes before the break as James Henry’s deep cross fell perfectly for Bakary Sako at the far post but his first-time strike from 10 yards was too close to Brighton keeper David Stockdale who fisted away acrobatically. That missed chance seemed to light a fire under Sako and moments later he embarked on a scintillating run into the Brighton area, beating three defenders on his way, but the angle was against him and he fired against the outside of the post. Amazingly, Sako had two more chances before half-time as Wolves, who had struggled to create anything for the first 40 minutes of the half, started to find room everywhere. Another surging run gave Sako the chance to shoot from the edge of the area but Stockdale saved low down before the Mali international latched onto a nod-down from Danny Graham but his strike was blocked by a Brighton foot.

Wolves did not want the half-time whistle to come but boss Kenny Jackett was unmoved by the late first-half improvement as he rang the changes at the interval. Jack Price came on for Henry while Graham, who had barely had a touch, made way for Dicko – and the forward took only four minutes to become embroiled in controversy. Pouncing on Joe Bennett’s under-hit backpass, Dicko went to ground as he tried to round keeper Stockdale and referee Darren Bond at first pointed to the spot for a penalty. However, after consulting with his assistant, Bond not only reversed the decision to award a spot-kick, he also booked Dicko for diving, much to the Wolves man’s dismay. The controversy continued as, just after Carl Ikeme pushed away a 25-yard strike from Bennett, Brighton had reason to feel aggrieved at referee Bond for sending off Spaniard Saltor on the hour mark. While there was no argument that Saltor flew in two-footed for a loose ball, there appeared to be no Wolves man in close proximity but Bond ruled the follow-through caught Kevin McDonald. With the numerical advantage Wolves pushed for an equaliser but a McDonald cross was headed wide on the stretch by Edwards, while Dicko shanked well wide after Stockdale spilled an ambitious Sako effort. Heading into the last ten minutes, Wolves had two clear chances to rescue a point at least but, first, Stockdale superbly stuck out a leg to foil Dicko after he had been played through by Price. And from the resulting corner, the ball fell to right-back Kortney Hause 12 yards out but, perhaps dreaming of a memorable goal on his home league debut, he blazed well over the bar. But Batth showed him how it was done a couple of minutes from time, showing determination to win a far-post scramble from a corner before firing home from six yards. Wolves sought a winner in stoppage time but a grounded Batth hooked over while on the floor and Stockdale tipped over a cross-shot from Hause.

Beeb Danny Batth's late equaliser salvaged a point for Wolves at home to 10-man Brighton & Hove Albion.

Wolves were denied a penalty after the break when Nouha Dicko was booked for simulation and Brighton's Bruno was then sent off for a two-footed lunge.

Batth poked in Bakary Sako's corner from close range with two minutes left.

Brighton have won just one of their last 18 league games and the result left them four points below Millwall, in 21st, while Wolves are now seven points off the play-off places.

After Bent's goal, the first half was initially one of few clear-cut opportunities and Wolves showed little invention until five minutes before the break, when Sako had three chances in as many minutes to bring the home side level.

The Mali international saw his volley from James Henry's deep cross punched away by David Stockdale, and then clipped the post after beating three players before forcing the Brighton keeper make a low save.

Wolves boss Kenny Jackett made a double substitution at half time and one of the replacements, Nouha Dicko, was in the thick of the action just five minutes after the restart.

Latching on to a loose backpass, he went down in the box following a challenge from Stockdale and referee Darren Bond pointed to the spot.

However, after consulting his assistant, Bond reversed his decision and booked Dicko for simulation, to the audible frustration of the home supporters.

Brighton were reduced to 10 men on 58 minutes when Spanish midfielder Bruno was dismissed for a rash challenge on Kevin McDonald.

Wolves began to dominate possession and Rajiv van La Parra, David Edwards and Dicko all had chances to level the scores before Batth's late intervention.

90:00 +3:41 Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Joe Bennett. 90:00 +1:26 Attempt saved. Danny Batth (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bakary Sako with a cross. 90:00 +0:55 Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Rohan Ince. 89:37 Attempt missed. Danny Batth (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right following a set piece situation. 89:16 Danny Holla (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 88:44 Foul by Danny Holla (Brighton and Hove Albion). 88:44 Bakary Sako (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins

a free kick in the attacking half. 87:30 Goal scored

Goal!

Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 1. Danny Batth (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Bakary Sako with a cross following a corner. 87:04 Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Íñigo Calderón. 86:41 Attempt blocked. Rajiv van La Parra (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Danny Batth. 85:08 Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Lewis Dunk tries a through ball, but Adrián Colunga is caught offside. 85:05 Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Leon Clarke tries a through ball, but Nouha Dicko is caught offside. 84:34 Sub,

Brighton and Hove Albion. Adrián Colunga replaces Darren Bent. 83:48 Hand ball by Bakary Sako (Wolverhampton Wanderers). 82:55 Attempt missed. Kortney Hause (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Rajiv van La Parra with a cross following a corner. 82:34 Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by David Stockdale. 82:33 Attempt saved. Nouha Dicko (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jack Price with a through ball. 77:53 Kevin McDonald (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 77:37 Jake Forster-Caskey (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 77:37 Foul by Kevin McDonald (Wolverhampton Wanderers). 76:49 Attempt

missed. Bakary Sako (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Dominic Iorfa. 75:23 Sub, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Leon Clarke replaces Dave Edwards. 74:37 Gary Gardner (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card. 74:26 Hand ball by Gary Gardner (Brighton and Hove Albion). 73:41 Delay over. They are ready to continue. 73:16 Sub, Brighton and Hove Albion. Rohan Ince replaces João Teixeira. 73:00 Delay in match David Stockdale (Brighton and Hove Albion) because of an injury. 72:31 Attempt missed. Nouha Dicko (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Rajiv van La Parra. 69:52 Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. David Stockdale tries a through ball, but João Teixeira is caught offside. 69:34 Foul by Jake

Forster-Caskey (Brighton and Hove Albion). 69:34 Bakary Sako (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing. 68:16 Attempt missed. Nouha Dicko (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box misses to the right. 68:11 Attempt saved. Bakary Sako (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Dominic Iorfa. 66:03 Attempt missed. Dave Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Kevin McDonald. 65:03 Attempt missed. Rajiv van La Parra (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left misses to the left. Assisted by Nouha Dicko following a corner. 64:47 Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Íñigo Calderón. 63:27

Jake Forster-Caskey (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 63:02 Foul by Jake Forster-Caskey (Brighton and Hove Albion). 63:02 Dominic Iorfa (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing. 60:58 Sub, Brighton and Hove Albion. Gary Gardner replaces Solly March. 59:45 Attempt saved. Rajiv van La Parra (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Dominic Iorfa. 59:37 Attempt blocked. Bakary Sako (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. 58:49 Delay over. They are ready to continue. 58:15 Delay in match Kevin McDonald (Wolverhampton Wanderers) because of an injury. 57:39 Dismissal

Wolves put a run of five successive defeats behind them to secure a hard-fought 1-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship.

Pictured 2,300 fans - frpm Football @awaydays

A goal from former Owl Leon Clarke in the 85th minute – just 30 seconds after he had replaced Danny Graham – secured all three points for Kenny Jackett’s men. The striker tapped home after a wonderful Kevin McDonald cross, following a game where Wolves were poor in the first-half but much improved after the break. Boss Jackett made one enforced change to the side that slipped to the 2-1 defeat away at Bournemouth. Teenager Kortney Hause came in at left-back for his full Wolves debut, in place of the suspended Matt Doherty. And the 19-year-old almost instantly had a debut to forget when, inside the first 20 seconds, Chris Maguire tricked his way past him and sent in a cross which found Tom Lee’s in the box. With the Hillsborough faithful screaming for him to shoot, Lee’s looked to play the ball across the six-yard box to Atdhe Nuhiu but Batth was on hand to block. Minutes later though and Wednesday again should have taken the lead. The lively Stevie May pinched the ball off Richard Stearman and ran clean through on goal. The forward looked to take it round Carl Ikeme but the ‘keeper forced him wide allowing Stearman to get back and clear his low effort off the line. Wolves were looking very much a side short of confidence, but they finally sprung to life in the 12th minute when Van La Parra chased a loose ball. The forward cut it back towards Danny Graham but the ball was hooked clear on the edge of the Owls six-yard box. But it was Stuart Gray’s side who were dominating proceedings and, following a succession of corners, Glenn Loovens headed narrowly wide. Wednesday continued to come forward in numbers and a wonderful Royston Drenthe through-ball sent May in on goal. With the frontman set to open the scoring, Dominic Iorfa got back brilliantly to muscle him off the ball allowing Ikeme to claim. Wolves were offering very little in terms of an attacking threat but just before the break Jackett’s side had their best chance of half. James Henry carried the ball towards the Owls box before finding Iorfa who took a touch and squared to the in-space Danny Graham who fired agonisingly wide eight-yards out. Undeterred, Wednesday broke immediately with a long ball sending May bearing down on the goal only to fire inches wide of the target.

Wolves began the second half kicking towards the away supporters and with the boss clearly ringing in their ears should have immediately gone ahead. Kevin McDonald carried the ball from his own half to the edge of the box and fired a low strike which Keiren Westwood parried straight to the feet of Van La Parra. With the goal at his mercy the frontman had time to steady himself but instead fired horribly wide to miss what was an absolute sitter. Buoyed Wolves came forward again on 47 minutes when a deft touch from Graham sent Van La Parra bursting into the area but Westwood rushed out to save. Seeming rattled, Wednesday looked to play themselves back into the game and May charged into the box only to see his effort comfortably crowded out by the Wolves back line. At the other end Van La Parra dinked the ball into the net after being found by Bakary Sako but the linesman had his flag up for offside. With Sako starting to become more influential, the Mali international showed all his trickery and power to burst into the box and hit a low shot that was crowded out. But with 10 minutes remaining it was the Owls who again should have taken the lead. Some nice vision from Drenthe allowed Lewis McGugan to centre for Tom Lee but the midfielder flicked wide. The home side were continuing to press and Drenthe did brilliantly to work some space on the edge of the box and hit a curling effort which sailed narrowly wide. But with five minutes remaining Wolves got the goal to snatch three precious Championship points. Jackett made his first substitution bringing on Leon Clarke for Danny Graham and within 30 seconds the former Wednesday striker had scored. McDonald did brilliantly to take the ball wide left and swing in an inch perfect cross which the unmarked striker was on hand to tap home to send the Wolves faithful delirious. Wednesday pressed for an equaliser in the dying stages with Maguire fizzing a free-kick just wide, but Wolves held on for a vital victory.

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP

Venue: Hillsborough Date: Saturday 13 December Kick-off: 15:00 GMT

Beeb: Substitute Leon Clarke struck a late winner against his former club Sheffield Wednesday as Wolves ended a run of six games without a win. The striker, 29, sneaked in at the back post to turn a Bakary Sako delivery past a stranded Keiren Westwood. Rajiv van La Parra missed a glaring first-half chance for Wolves, while Glenn Loovens headed Wednesday's best opening wide. Clarke capitalised, smashing in to lift Wolves 12th, a place above Wednesday. The Owls appeared to have turned a corner, with victory in their previous two matches offering a reprieve after 11 games without a win. Wolves arrived at Hillsborough having conceded 11 goals in their last three away games - all defeats. And Wednesday - whose manager Stuart Gray was once in charge at Molineux - went close early on when Stevie May rounded Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme only for Richard Stearman to clear his shot off the line. Loovens then rose to meet Chris Maguire's corner but headed inches wide and Royston Drenthe went just as close with a sweet volley. Danny Graham - the man replaced by Clarke - missed a one-on-one chance late in the first half but it is Van La Parra who will breathe a sigh of relief as his glaring miss after Westwood parried an initial Wolves attempt did not cost the visitors dear. May again went close and a game with several good chances looked set to end goalless when Clarke - who played for Wednesday between 2007 and 2010 - buried the winner. Maguire fizzed a free-kick narrowly wide as Wednesday pushed to level but their visitors held on for a first away win since October 25.

An appalling display again by a so called elite referee Mike Jones who at one point wasn’t watching the game as he hoped to catch Dave Edwards for a second booking after a booking him for chesting the ball down in midfield and then sending two Wolves off - and incensing owner Steve Morgan to do what 17,000 would do and tackle the abject Jones.

Kenny said they would appeal both

Nine-man Wolves were left fuming at referee Mike Jones as Bournemouth came from behind to hand Wanderers a fifth defeat on the spin.

Wolves ended their month-long goal drought – they last scored at Ipswich on November 4 – as loan man Danny Graham opened his account for the club by heading them before the break. However, Jones sent off Rajiv van La Parra early in the second half for what appeared at first glance to be an accidental clash of heads with Bournemouth defender Steve Cook. Wolves defended doggedly in the aftermath of the sending-off but Harry Arter’s deflected equaliser and Matt Ritchie’s winner meant the heroics of keeper Carl Ikeme were for nought. And Wanderers ended the game with nine men as Matt Doherty saw red in injury time for a bad tackle on Cherries striker Brett itman.

Wolves boss Kenny Jackett made four changes from the 4-0 thrashing at Brentford as he looked to halt their recent rotten run. Youngster Dominic Iorfa, just 18, was handed his Wolves debut at left-back after Scott Golbourne suffered a recurrence of his foot injury less than 45 minutes into his comeback at Brentford. But Sam Ricketts, Lee Evans and George Saville were all dropped from the matchday squad by Jackett who handed recalls to Richard Stearman, Kevin McDonald and James Henry. Defender Kourtney Hause and midfielder Jack Price were on the bench after being recalled from their loan spells with League One outfits Gillingham and Leyton Orient respectively.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, were unsurprisingly virtually unchanged from last weekend’s draw at Millwall, which made it ten games unbeaten for the Cherries in all competitions. The only change Bournemouth did make was no shock either as top scorer Callum Wilson – a striker Wolves looked at in the summer – returned from injury in place of Yann Kermorgant up front. After a minute’s silence in memory of legendary Wanderers keeper Malcolm Finlayson, who died last week aged 84, Wolves began brightly and had the game’s first real chance six minutes in. A careless Bournemouth pass out of defence presented Henry with the ball 25 yards out and his fierce strike was well fisted away by full-stretch Cherries keeper Artur Boruc. Bournemouth responded in kind as Ritchie let fly from 25 yards with an effort that while not quite as well-struck as Henry’s seconds earlier still required a smart save from Carl Ikeme. Ritchie looked the dangerman for the visitors and his through ball found Brett Pitman in space in the area but he flashed his shot well over Ikeme’s crossbar from a tricky angle 12 minutes in. The action soon switched to the other end as Iorfa almost made it a dream debut as he cut inside and saw a deflected effort just about parried by Boruc with van La Parra only able to divert the loose ball into the side netting from a tight angle. Wolves were gradually getting on top and only a superb fingertip save from Boruc stopped them going ahead nine minutes before the break as he foiled Graham’s flicked header from a floated van La Parra cross. Bournemouth were still a danger on the counter, though, and after Simon Francis beat Stearman all ends up, he squared for Wilson, who lifted a delicate dinked effort just a couple of feet over the bar from 12 yards. But it was Wolves who broke the deadlock four minutes before the break as loan man Graham opened his account for the club and

ended Wanderers’ own near 350-minute wait for a goal. Henry crossed from the left and Graham stooped to flick a header with almost the back of his head that beat Boruc and nestled in the net off the inside of the post. There was an early scare for Wolves at the start of the second half as Richard Stearman gave away a free-kick 25 yards out but Ikeme got his body well behind a fierce low drive from Ritchie. And the game changed 13 minutes into the second half as van La Parra received his marching orders for

what appeared to be an accidental clash of heads with Bournemouth defender Cook. Both players seemed to have their eyes firmly fixed on a high ball and, after Cook got there first, he was struck by van La Parra’s head. Referee Jones, however, deemed the contact deliberate and flashed a red card to the disbelieving Dutchman. Rajiv’s dismissal was rescinded on appeal but Jones had given Bournemouth the game by then. He was consistenlty watching Dave Edwards for a second yellow rather than the game. Ritchie looped a header just wide and substitute Adam Smith lashed a vicious effort into Ikeme’s side netting from distance with his first touch as the Cherries tried to capitalise on the one-man advantage. Cook, whose every touch was greeted with boos by a loud and aggrieved home following, lifted an instinctive effort just over from six yards as Bournemouth

piled on the pressure. And it finally paid off with the equaliser 16 minutes from time as the ball fell to Arter on the edge of the box and his slightly deflected effort beat a wrong-footed Ikeme. Despite defending valiantly Wolves could not hold out and after Ikeme pulled off a stunning double save to foil a Ritchie rocket and Wilson header, he was beaten at the third attempt as Ritchie’s strike found the bottom corner five minutes from time. And Wolves’ misery was compounded deep into stoppage time as full-back

Doherty was shown a straight red card for a reckless lunge on Pitman. Another poor decision but not overturned to save criticism of an awful ref. At least Steve Morgan had a go but (wrongly) apologised to Jones.

Wolves boss Kenny Jackett felt referee Mike Jones got both red cards wrong after Wanderers were reduced to nine men in their defeat to Bournemouth. Rajiv van La Parra's dismissal for an aerial clash with Bournemouth's Steve Cook turned the game with Wolves leading by Danny Graham's first-half header at the time. Bournemouth went on to win with strikes from Harry Arter and Matt Ritchie before Matt Doherty also saw red for an injury-time tackle on Brett Pitman. And Jackett fumed: “The first sending-off was the turning point and the information I’ve got from the officials is that he led with his elbow and because of that it was a red card. I didn’t think he did lead with his elbow at the time and having seen it again after I felt it was head to head and perhaps a for a mistimed challenge but not a red card. He was definitely going for the ball. It took off a player on the day who was a big threat for us and changed the dynamics of the game. The second sending-off I felt was equally harsh. I felt Matt Doherty won the ball with his front foot and his second leg was passive, by his side." Jackett was unimpressed with Cherries defender Cook, who he felt exaggerated van La Parra's challenge in the first incident. He said: “You have to do whatever you have to when players go down for that long, when they get up they should either be cut or have a severe bruise. All I was saying to the fourth official was that I bet he does get up and I bet he’s OK – and he was." And the Wolves boss played down chairman Steve Morgan's post-match

confrontation with the officials, saying:“I have been told that but I didn’t see it. I haven’t spoken to him yet. I’m sure he wanted an explanation and wanted to talk about the incidents that had happened and affected the game today.”

Wolves have conceded 14 goals in that period and Jackett was once more left fuming at the ease with which Brentford were allowed to take their chances.

“In the first half it was a close game, we had some big chances, did well on the counter attack, but ultimately gave a poor first goal away,” said Jackett. "We gave the ball away and Judge has pounced and scored. We had chances down the other end, second half the more we opened up and the more we tried to throw bodies forward and runners forward the more we just got caught on the counter-attack. Their second goal, we were in a good position, a mix-up between Saville and Graham, they've counter-attacked and finished very well. Our two centre-halves, holding midfield player and left-back are in no-man's land and we're two-nil down. Third goal, Gray's run past both our centre-halves and left back and put it in the far corner so it was very poor defending. The fourth goal two midfield players have got caught, Bretford regain in our left-back spot and the ball's in. For us to make it competitive we can't give goals away like that.”

Defeat dropped Wolves a further place to 12th in the table and Jackett added: “There's frustration going forward because we did have a lot of good situations, a lot of good crosses,” he said. “Our wide men were a threat a big threat but obviously we couldn't capitalise on it. We were punished by a good side. The more bodies we threw forward, the more likely Brentford looked like scoring. Two big chances, Sako at the far post and Graham at the far post. Our naviety to the counter-attack was the most disturbing thing.”

Beeb

Brentford hammered struggling Wolves to equal a 75-year club record of five straight wins in England's second tier. Wolves - who have lost four on the spin - fell behind when Alan Judge raced on to Andre Gray's pass to claim his first goal of the season with a smart finish. Alex Pritchard crossed for Stuart Dallas to add a second on 74 minutes before Gray turned in the area to slam his seventh league goal of the season. Jota added a fourth as Brentford moved third in the table. Mark Warburton's side have thrust themselves in among the promotion hopefuls with a run of form which has also seen them plunder 14 goals over the five wins. Their form could not be in starker contrast to Wolves, whose impressive start to the season - including four wins from six games - now looks a distant memory. Kenny Jackett's players have not scored a goal in over 270 minutes and have just three wins in their last 14. They started well at Griffin Park but fell behind to Judge's run and finish before half an hour, and could have delivered the perfect response through top scorer Bakary Sako, but his strike was saved. Judge could have added a second when he was released into the Wolves box but Carl Ikeme's save offered just brief resistance before the break. Dallas had been on the field nine minutes when he connected with a Pritchard delivery after the 21-year-old had found space out wide. It was his third goal of the season but Gray - the club's top scorer - was rewarded for his own hard work when he collected the ball with his back to goal to find space for a right-foot shot. Jota replaced the impressive Pritchard on 89 minutes and completed the scoring in injury time, driving past Ikeme from a narrow angle.

Brentford manager Mark Warburton:

"People talk to me about coming into this division and looking to survive, but that's nonsense.

"Our aim isn't just to stay in this division. That is not what we are about. We want to maintain our level of performance and see where we end up in May.

"When we play well we do not fear anyone in this division, but it is a very tough division and if you start letting your standards slip then you'll get hurt as we found out at Middlesbrough."

Wolves head coach Kenny Jackett:

"In the first half it was a close game. We had some big chances and did well on the counter attack, but we gave away a poor first goal from a throw-in and that changed things.

"In the second half we opened up more and we got caught on the counter attack by a very good Brentford side.

"Some of our big players have struggled and are looking for confidence, but our set up defensively and organisationally at times is poor.

"We were very open in the second half and our naivety to the counter attack was the most disturbing thing."

LINEUP, BOOKINGS (5) & SUBS (6)

Brentford

27 Button

10 Odubajo

06 Dean

05 Craig

03 Bidwell Booked

08 Douglas

17 Toral (Dallas - 66' )

20 Diagouraga

21 Pritchard (Peleteiro Ramallo - 90' )

18 Judge

19 Gray (Smith - 85' )

Substitutes

07 Saunders

15 Dallas

16 Bonham

23 Peleteiro Ramallo

24 Smith

26 Tarkowski

39 Proschwitz

Wolverhampton Wanderers

01 Ikeme

02 Doherty

06 Batth

18 Ricketts Booked

03 Golbourne (Rowe - 45' )

08 Saville Booked

14 Evans Booked (McDonald - 57' )

17 van La Parra

04 Edwards Booked

10 Sako

12 Graham (Clarke - 92' )

Substitutes

05 Stearman

07 Henry

09 Clarke

11 McDonald

15 Rowe

27 Jacobs

29 Kuszczak

Ref: Mark Brown

Att: 10,923

MATCH STATS

90mins

Brentford Wolverhampton Wanderers

Possession 58% 42%

Shots 9 9

On target 5 2

Corners 8 2

Fouls 7 13

TEAM NEWS

Brentford are expected to be unchanged although Spanish midfielder Jota staked a claim to a starting spot by scoring the winner against Fulham last week.

Wolves slumped to a third defeat on the bounce after another defensive nightmare against East Midlands opposition. Just two weeks after shipping five at Derby, Kenny Jackett’s men conceded three times after the interval to a rampant Forest side who, in truth, could have won by much more. Wanderers slipped to 11th in the Championship as a result, leapfrogged by Forest in the process as the visitors triumphed through second-half strikes from Britt Assombalonga, Matty Fryatt and Henri Lansbury. Wolves, meanwhile, rarely threatened visiting goalkeeper Karl Darlow and were indebted to several fine saves from Carl Ikeme that kept the margin of defeat respectable.

Jackett made three changes from the 5-0 humbling at Derby County, as midfielders Lee Evans and George Saville dropped to the bench while striker Leon Clarke was omitted from the squad completely. With Nouha Dicko’s hamstrings causing him concern upon his return from international duty, Danny Graham was thrust straight into the starting line-up after his recent loan arrival from Sunderland. Tommy Rowe and the fit-again Dave Edwards came in for the benched duo of Saville and Evans in the middle of the park. Molineux marked the recent passing of former skipper Eddie Stuart with a minute’s applause prior to kick-off. The tannoy’s tale of the defender’s debut derby goal against West Brom elicited a raucous roar of approval from the home faithful. It was Forest who made the brighter start, though.

Inside the first minute, Michail Antonio stung Carl Ikeme’s palms with a 20-yard rocketed that the Wolves goalkeeper pushed up into the air and grasped at the second attempt. Wolves’ first real sight of goal came on the quarter-hour mark as Dave Edwards raced down the right wing. Graham beat Jamaal Lascelles to the low cross to poke an effort goalwards but it lacked power and was comfortable for Forest shot-stopper Karl Darlow. James Henry volleyed a decent opening well wide from outside the box soon after, as Wolves began to assert some control but only Ikeme’s brilliance twice prevented them falling behind just prior to the half-hour mark. First, Ikeme produced a wonderful full-length finger-tip save to divert Lansbury’s curling 25-yard effort onto the post. And, moments later, after Danny Batth’s goal-saving header denied Assombalonga a certain tap-in, Ikeme turned Fryatt’s follow-up around the post. Edwards slipped after Graham sent him racing through on goal but made no such mistake in the 34th minute. He took a neat Rowe pass in his stride and tucking past Darlow, only for the offside flag to cut short any celebrations. If Edwards’ control had been as good, a few minutes later, Wolves would have been ahead at the break. But he let the ball run away from him with an empty goal gaping after Darlow completely misjudged a high ball.

After the break, Ikeme made another good stop, this time to prevent Danny Fox’s accurate free-kick sneaking in at his near post as the start of the second-half belonged to Forest. Substitute Richard Stearman – on as a late first-half replacement for the injured Ethan Ebanks-Landell – slid in to tackle a clean-through Lansbury. When the ball made its way back to the Forest man he shot straight at Ikeme. Fox curled inches wide from the edge of the box with Ikeme a spectator, before Wolves finally threatened.

But Edwards was unable to get any purchase on his header from a Bakary Sako cross and it sailed harmlessly wide. Still, a Forest goal seemed only a matter of time such was the threat they carried and it arrived on 65 minutes. Fryatt was allowed far too much space in the area to square for Assombalonga to tap home from a mere couple of yards. It was game over three minutes later, as Forest doubled their lead, Fryatt this time the scorer as he somehow beat the much-taller Wolves defenders to glance home a Lansbury corner. Substitute Rajiv van La Parra wasted a golden chance to get Wolves back into it with his first touch 15 minutes from time, as he sent a free header woefully wide from eight yards out. Wolves knew it was not going to be their day soon afterwards when Rowe motored into the box looking to thunder home van La Parra’s cross, but his goalbound strike was blocked by Lascelles. And they were put out of their misery eight minutes from time, as Assombalonga dummied Antonio’s low cross for the excellent Lansbury to drill home Forest’s third goal from just inside the area. It could have been even worse for Wolves but Ikeme pawed away another well-struck Lansbury effort late on and Jamie Paterson put the rebound high and wide.

Nottingham Forest strolled to a convincing win at Wolves after scoring three goals in the final 25 minutes.

After an entertaining but goalless first half, Britt Assombalonga's 11th league goal of the season put the visitors in front as he tapped in Matty Fryatt's cross from a yard out.

Fryatt soon doubled the advantage with a header from Henri Lansbury's corner.

Lansbury's neat finish from Michail Antonio's cut back made it three, as Wolves only had one shot on target.

The win for Stuart Pearce's men followed their 2-1 victory against Norwich a fortnight ago and continued something of a mini-revival for Forest, who before that had gone almost two months without tasting success.

On the other hand, Kenny Jackett's Wolves have now lost three league games in a row, their worst run under his tenure.

Debutant Danny Graham, on loan from Sunderland until 31 December, had the first real chance for the hosts when he nipped in to meet Dave Edwards cross, but his low shot was saved by Karl Darlow. Britt Assombalonga has scored 11 goals in 18 league games in his first season at Nottingham Forest Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme kept Forest at bay just before the half-hour mark with two fine saves, as he first pushed Jamaal Lascelles strike onto the post at full stretch before tipping Fryatt's low curling effort behind.

Moments later, Dave Edwards had the ball in the net for Wolves but it was ruled out for offside.

After the break, Forest began to take control and were rewarded on 65 minutes when former Peterborough man Assombalonga found space to poke in the easiest of chances.

The game was as good as over three minutes later when Fryatt rose highest above a static defence to nod in another close-range effort.

As Wolves pushed forward to look for a way back into the game, Forest broke and Antonio's cross evaded everyone inside the box before it fell to Lansbury who slotted home with a first time finish.

The result sees Forest move back up to eighth, while Wolves are a point behind in 11th.

Wolves manager Kenny Jackett: "That is now 10 goals against in three games and only one scored and that is a big swing. It is obviously something we need to address and very quickly. It is not a one-off situation. As a defence and and a team we need to defend better. For the home side our goalkeeper had to work too much. We need to find an equation at the back that stops these goals going in and then going the other way be a threat. Both areas have to be addressed very quickly."

Nottingham Forest manager Stuart Pearce: "Both defensively and offensively we did very well. We had seen that in training over the last couple of weeks. That attitude of the players has been very good. They have had their tails up. We have taken our training performance into the game. We have seen first hand how the confidence and the mood of the camp has lifted. Confidence is a real commodity in professional sport we know that. They have been really focused and we are just pleased with the result and performance and we need to keep edging forward."

Sorry Wolves crashed to their heaviest defeat for over two-and-a-half years after being well beaten by promotion favourites Derby at rain-lashed i-Pro Stadium.

Ryan Shotton (16), Jeff Hendrick (28) and Johnny Russell (42) gave the Rams the platform for a one-sided victory before half-time. Hendrick (55) and Russell on the hour completed the rout to inflict Wolves’ biggest loss since a 5-0 home defeat by Manchester United on March 18, 2012. Wolves looked second best from the start against a far more slicker, stronger and more inventive outfit who look certs for promotion after this rout. The recalled George Saville had the chance to make a game of it when he blazed wide in the 24th minute with the score at 1-0. But four minutes later Hendrick made it 2-0 to Steve McClaren’s side and there was no way back for Wolves. Leon Clarke hit the post with a deflected effort in the second half but by then the visitors were 5-0 and chasing only a consolation.

Head coach Kenny Jackett surprised everyone with a recall for captain Sam Ricketts at left-back. he club captain returned for only his second League start of the season at the expense of Tommy Rowe, who dropped to the bench. The other change saw Saville in for the injured Dave Edwards in the number 10 role, with Michael Jacobs starting on the bench against his old club.

After an immaculately observed minute’s silence, Wolves, in their gold shorts, kicked off in driving rain. But they were quickly forced onto the back foot by the rampaging Rams, who pretty much controlled the first half as Wolves had no answer to the relentless stream of attacks. Richard Keogh headed wide from Mascarell’s free kick after six minutes in the first opening. Ten minutes later Derby took a deserved lead when Shotton headed home another free kick from the Spaniard after Matt Doherty was booked for bringing down Simon Dawkins. Wolves’ best spell of the first period came just before the mid-point of the half. They threatened briefly on 19 when Bakary Sako whipped a first-time curling effort narrowly over the bar from their first corner, taken by James Henry. And their best opening of the first 45 minutes came five minutes later when Saville was presented with a clear chance from Ricketts’s cut-back after excellent work by Sako to release him in the left. But the former Chelsea midfielder could only fire well wide from a good position in the centre. Two minutes later Sako, more in hope with limited options ahead of him, sent a bouncing effort a yard wide of the far post. But Derby responded in emphatic fashion by doubling their lead. This time Hendrick raced into the space in front of him and held off a challenge from Lee Evans before unleashing a firm low drive that flew past Carl Ikeme. From there, it seemed Derby grew in confidence and Wolves wilted in the rain. Russell’s angled shot was deflected off Ricketts and looped over the bar. And from the resulting corner, it was 3-0 when Russell was allowed the freedom of the Wolves box to drill home after the defence failed to clear Mascarell’s flag-kick. Derby continued to pile forward and Keogh’s glancing header flew across goal and just off target before Chris Martin curled a free kick a couple of feet over the bar. Wolves made a change at half-time with Richard Stearman on for Ethan Ebanks-Landell. But it made little difference as Derby continued their onslaught. Hendrick grabbed his second on 55 in the first chance of the half when he took advantage of space that opened up in front of him by sidefooting home after his superb run was picked out by Will Hughes just outside the box after an interception deep in the Wolves half. Three minutes later, there was a glimpse of a consolation for the visitors when Clarke’s angled left-foot drive was deflected against the foot of the post and behind for a corner. From the resulting flag-kick taken by Henry, the ball was headed away as far as Kevin McDonald, who lashed a few inches over. Wolves continued to battle to get on the scoresheet and Saville forced a falling save from Jack Butland from 25 yards on 73. Substitute Liam McAlinden, who replaced Clarke on 67, glanced inches wide from Sako’s cross in a rare attack for the visitors. But their efforts were all in vain as they were well beaten.

All Wolves had to show for their efforts was the unflinching support from their 2,561 fans, who stayed right to the end and continued to back their team and show good humour on a difficult day.

Beeb

Rampant Derby have temporarily moved to the top of the Championship with an emphatic win over a lacklustre Wolves. The Rams took the lead from Ryan Shotton's flicked

Wolves briefly gave themselves hope through James Henry’s equaliser, but errors by Kevin McDonald and Lee Evans either side of that were ruthlessly punished by in-form striker Daryl Murphy. And, although they produced an improved second-half performance, Wolves lacked the creativity to extend their unbeaten run against a pumped-up home side who looked as if they wanted it more. Chances were thin on the ground for a lacklustre Kenny Jackett’s side and they lost tonight for what was only the third time this season. And it was the second successive time McCarthy has beaten Wolves since he left the club as Ipswich leapfrogged them on goal difference. The visitors improved after the break but the lack of movement on a night when they lost the recalled Dave Edwards after just 14 minutes was there for all to see. Wolves needed a kick up the backside after a poor 45 minutes in which they were very much second best. he visitors simply never got going – or perhaps were never given the chance to get going against a slicker, stronger more robust Ipswich outfit. Driven on by breathless performances from Murphy and former Wolves winger Stephen Hunt, McCarthy’s side were hell-bent on denying them space and going for their throats. Murphy gave notice of what was to come in the second minute when he saw an angled effort palmed away by Carl Ikeme when Matt Doherty slipped controlling Hunt’s pass. Ten minutes later Murphy drilled a rising drive a foot over from 25 yards as the home side looked for the breakthrough.

Wolves were then disrupted by an injury to Edwards after the midfielder was caught late and hobbled off after just 14 minutes. Michael Jacobs replaced him and immediately assumed the number 10 role in which he excelled last season. But it was Ipswich who were doing the excelling. Seconds after his arrival, the Tractor Boys almost snatched the lead when Ikeme dropped Kevin Bru’s hanging cross and David McGoldrick prodded wide of the open goal. Ipswich remained on top and Jay Tabb stabbed wide with only Ikeme to beat on 26 after Hunt flicked the ball across goal, beating a sluggish defence. The breakthrough finally came 10 minutes before the break – and when it came, it was a beauty after a Wolves mistake. Murphy dispossessed McDonald far too easily on the edge of his own box. The former Sunderland and Celtic front-man looked up before despatching a left-foot curling shot into the far corner of the net for his ninth goal of the season. Wolves had no response to the fierce pressure from Ipswich with their own attempts to break forward regularly broken up by an inability to hold the ball up or a poor final ball. For the second first-half in a row, there was a lack of movement from the front players and so no chance for attacks to build or to stretch the opposition. Eight minutes before the break, a former Wolves connection combined to go close again for Ipswich again. This time Hunt’s outswinging corner was met by the head of Christophe Berra for a header that flew narrowly over. And as Wolves were looking to get to the sanctuary of their dressing room, Ipswich should have doubled their lead. McGoldrick was presented with a chance from Hunt’s free kick, which the Irishman rolled square in an attempted remake of the famous Jamie O’Hara Black Country derby ‘special’. But the striker could only roll the ball to Ikeme at his near post. Thankfully for Wolves, they improved second half in what was a full-blooded affair. Sako blazed high and wide after a cruel bounce off the turf on the angle. But Wolves equalised on 53 in their next attack in bizarre circumstances. Henry’s curling left-footed cross from the right wing fooled goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski and crept into the far corner of the net, after Doherty lobbed the ball back to him when a Wolves corner had been cleared. Four minutes later, Wolves almost snatched the lead when Clarke slid in for Sako’s deep cross only for the shot to trickle just wide of the far post with Bialkowski beaten. Wolves were made to rue their miss when Ipswich regained the lead a minute before the hour mark. There was no danger to the visitors but an awful pass from Evans on the halfway line was seized on by McGoldrick. He fed Murphy in acres of space to run through and lift the ball over Ikeme, who seemed to be caught in two minds. The game became frenetic for a while with chances at both ends as Doherty curled over from deep inside the box, then a clearance from Ethan Ebanks-Landell hit one of his own players and bounced dangerously wide. Jackett brought on Liam McAlinden for Jacobs in an effort to bring a second equaliser with 11 minutes left, then Rajiv van La Parra for the tireless Henry on 82.

But there was to be no repeat of the late goals that had seen Ipswich surrender leads in their previous four games before last weekend.

Wolves went top of the Championship for a couple of hours but they had to settle for a derby stalemate with Birmingham City in the lunchtime kick-off. Kenny Jackett’s side went closest to breaking the deadlock when substitute Dave Edwards’s chip hit the bar in the 71st minute. Wolves launched a second-half barrage of pressure but had little to show for it as Blues looked much tighter after their record 8-0 home defeat to Bournemouth last week. Leon Clarke was inches away from sub Bakary Sako’s cross and Kevin McDonald was narrowly wide with a 25-yard drove in a second half dominated by Wolves. Blues’ only chances were a shot from Clayton Donaldson that flew wide in the 26th minute and a header from Jonathan Grounds that was smothered by Carl Ikeme on 61. But there were angry scenes after the final whistle when there was a brief exchange of missiles between fans in the upper tier of the Steve Bull Stand and the lower tier, where the Blues fans were.

This followed an interrupted minute’s silence for Remembrance Day after a few shouts from the visitors’ section were booed by the South Bank, adding more tension to the derby atmosphere. Head coach Jackett made two changes to the line-up that beat Leeds 2-1 last weekend. Leon Clarke and Liam McAlinden, who was recalled from his loan at Fleetwood Town this week, started in place of Dave Edwards and Nouha Dicko, who Jackett had said was OK on Thursday only to see him pull out with a hamstring injury.

Clarke was preferred to Edwards in the number 10 role after his impressive performance in the second half at Elland Road. When the action got underway, Clarke had the first chance in the sixth minute but his twisting header was tipped over by the backpedalling Darren Randolph. Four minutes later, McAlinden found himself in the clear only to be driven wide and dig out a poor shot that Randolph saved comfortably falling to his left. Blues’ first chance arrived in the 14th minute when Andrew Shinnie’s looping header from David Cotterill’s left-wing cross sailed well over. But the visitors, in a new-look 4-1-3-2 formation under new boss Gary Rowett, were frustrating Wolves and the longer the game went on, frustrated their hosts. Blues grew into the game and began to create chances of their own and ended the first half on top. Their confidence growing, Blues pushed on at Wolves at every opportunity and Koby Arthur lashed into the sidenetting on 23 from a Cotterill free kick that was headed on by Lee Evans. Three minutes later Blues had their best chance of the first period when Kevin McDonald was hassled out of possession by former team-mate David Davis and Clayton Donaldson was left in the clear in the inside right channel. But with Carl Ikeme to beat, he drove a few feet wide. A clearance by Matt Doherty ended a period of Blues pressure on 34 and left Clarke in the clear but he seemed to hesitate with his shot before having the sting taken out of it by a deflection.

Wolves looked brighter at the start of the second half and tried to carry the game to Blues, but chances were hard to come by despite plenty of possession as the visitors held firm. McDonald had the first opening on 54 but his rising shot from 25 yards was a few feet over. A minute later there was a handball shout for a Wolves penalty when Henry’s cross hit Jonathan Grounds but referee Anthony Taylor shook his head. Wolves made a double in the 56th minute as they pressed for the opener. Bakary Sako and Edwards replaced Jacobs and McAlinden. But it was Blues who almost forced the breakthrough from a corner on 61 when Carl Ikeme spread himself to his right to keep out Grounds’ header. Wolves began to put Blues under pressure and three minutes later, McDonald was just inches wide from 25 yards after Donaldson cleared Sako’s free kick. The home side retained the initiative and went desperately close on 71 when Edwards found himself in the clear on the left inside the box and beat Randolph with his chip only to see it come off the bar. Wolves threw Yannick Sagbo on for the tiring Clarke on 78 as a last throw of the dice. But the closest they came was in the third of the three minutes of time added on when Sako’s sidefooted effort was blocked by Caddis after Evans ran onto Sagbo’s flick and knocked it back into his path.

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP

Venue: Molineux Date: Saturday, 1 November Kick-off: 12:15 GMT

New Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett inspired his team to a draw in his first game in charge as their derby at Wolves ended goalless.

Goalless in the Black Country

It was the first time Wolves had failed to score in front of their own fans since since their last local derby - the goalless draw against Shrewsbury Town in March.

Blues' only previous clean sheet this season was the 1-0 win over Brighton in August - their only home victory.

Wolves' point from the lunchtime derby was enough to take them briefly to the top of the Championship for the first time this season, before dropping down to fourth later in the day.

Rowett, a former Birmingham defender, left his job at Burton to join Blues on Monday, two days after the thrashing by Bournemouth and a week after Lee Clark's departure.

And the new man made changes to his side, drafting in loan signing Michael Morrison, signed from Charlton Athletic on Friday, while Andrew Shinnie was recalled alongside Wolves old boy David Davis.

Just a week on from losing 8-0 at home to Bournemouth in a club record home defeat, Blues kept only their second clean sheet of the season. Wolves sub Dave Edwards' left-foot chip clipped the top of the bar. Blues' best chance fell to Jonathan Grounds, whose header was parried by Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme. Grounds was also the man involved in a penalty shout when James Henry's cross struck his outstretched left arm. After an early onslaught from the home team, it all worked for the new-look line-up before the break as Wolves quickly ran out of ideas.

Blues, by contrast, visibly grew in confidence, creating two chances for youngster Koby Arthur and another for Clayton Donaldson.

The second half proved more lively, both sets of fans becoming animated following the handball shout against Grounds.

After Ikeme had saved a header from the Blues left-back, Wolves began to create chances following the arrival of substitutes Edwards and Bakary Sako.

Sako's low cross was then somehow allowed to pass across the face of goal, just inches away from Leon Clarke, who also saw a near-post header fly just over.

But, although the dangerous Edwards then saw his chip hit the bar, that was as close as Wolves got to forcing a winner.

Wolves boss Kenny Jackett told BBC WM:

"We huffed and puffed and we had a lot of the ball but we didn't do enough going forward in the final third.

"It didn't surprise me the way they set up, playing 5-4-1. But it was down to us to break them down.

"As for the penalty shout, sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't. It could have gone either way."

Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett told BBC WM:

"It's been a fresh start this week. Last week's result really wasn't mentioned. It's all been about looking forward and I'm very pleased with what I saw.

"I didn't expect us to come and keep a clean sheet at Molineux. But I'd certainly have taken that. It's something to build on now.

"Most of our focus this week has been working on our defensive shape and structure, but we also broke into some good areas and, with a bit more composure, that could have have brought us something."

Analysis: Mike Taylor, BBC WM 95.6

"It's the first step on a long road, but Gary Rowett's Birmingham were sure-footed for the most part in securing a worthy point. They demonstrated all the qualities of organisation and discipline associated with their new manager, and deserved reward for their efforts, even though Wolves gathered momentum in the second half. "For Wolves, as soon as the teamsheet arrived, the writing was on the wall, and it was in French. Without Bakary Sako and Nouha Dicko from the start, they set a plodding pace, although it was raised by the introduction of Sako and Dave Edwards in the second half. The league table shows there's by no means cause for concern, but it's a measure of Wolves' ambition that they went top and were still disappointed.

LINEUP, BOOKINGS (4) & SUBS (6)

Wolverhampton Wanderers

01 Ikeme

02 Doherty

06 Batth

23 Ebanks-Landell

15 Rowe

11 McDonald

14 Evans

07 Henry

27 Jacobs (Sako - 56' )

20 McAlinden (Edwards - 56' )

09 Clarke Booked (Sagbo - 79' )

Substitutes

04 Edwards

05 Stearman

08 Saville

10 Sako

12 Sagbo

17 van La Parra

31 Flatt

Birmingham City

01 Randolph

31 Caddis Booked

28 Morrison

04 Robinson

03 Grounds

08 Gleeson

26 Davis Booked

11 Cotterill

22 Shinnie (Reilly - 66' )

24 Arthur (Shea - 64' )

09 Donaldson (Thomas - 77' Booked )

Substitutes

02 Eardley

10 Thomas

13 Shea

15 Hall

17 Reilly

21 Doyle

29 Brown

Ref: Anthony Taylor

Att: 25,135

MATCH STATS

90mins

Wolverhampton Wanderers Birmingham City

Possession 67% 33%

Shots 22 13

On target 6 3

Corners 5 4

Fouls 13 10

Leeds 1 Antenucci 18′ Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Henry 66′ Clarke 85′

Clarke's barren run ends. Leon Clarke scored just his second goal in 21 appearances since returning to Wolves from Coventry in January.

A stirring second-half display saw Wolves make it back-to-back wins for the first time since August. Half-time substitute Leon Clarke was the match-winner in the 85th minute with his first goal of the season. Man of the Match James Henry had cancelled out Mirco Antenucci’s 19th-minute opener to build on Tuesday’s 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough. Wolves were lacklustre and lacking any sort of tempo or penetration for the first half. But they produced a superb performance after the break to take the game to the home side and earn their second away win of the season after Fulham on August 20 and make it six away trips unbeaten. Dominating possession and led by the force of Henry, they forced chances for Nouha Dicko – who was denied by a brilliant save by Marco Silvestri – and sub Rajiv Van La Parra sandwiching the equaliser.

Jackett made one change from the line-up that beat Middlesbrough 2-0 on Tuesday night but it was a costly one with Bakary Sako missing out with the groin strain that forced him off in that game. Michael Jacobs replaced the seven-goal top scorer for only his second league start of the season. Wolves got off to a slow start with Leeds first to press and the Whites deservedly led at half-time. And it was the Wolves left-hand side that was targeted again for the first chance in the 14th minute. A long ball caught the visitors out and released burly forward Steve Morison – who was signed by Jackett for Millwall in 2009 – and the 31-year-old forced Carl Ikeme into a diving save to his right. The rebound fell to Alex Mowatt, whose shot had plenty of power but flew into the sidenetting, with some fans in the giant East Stand thinking it had gone in. But Leeds fans didn’t have long to wait to cheer a goal as the home side took the lead five minutes later. Again it started from Wolves’ left side, with Morison taking on Tommy Rowe before squaring to Antenucci on the edge of the area. The Italian still had plenty to do but Wolves seemed to stand off him a fraction too long before he beat Ikeme with a low shot that crept in the far corner off the net off the post. With Dicko looking far too isolated in the Wolves attack and neither Henry or the under-used Jacobs unable to provide the right support, Leeds remained on top. And the hosts should have doubled their lead in the 25th minute, when Wolves’ left side was targeted again.

Morison getting to the byeline this time and cutting it back to Mowatt, who had the whole goal to aim at but fortunately for Jackett’s side, fired straight at Ikeme, who smothered it on the line. With Wolves struggling to impose themselves on the game, their first on-target effort didn’t arrive until the 37th minute. Jacobs’s first-time low shot was easily gathered by Silvestri after Dave Edwards helped on Henry’s left-wing cross. Jacobs was responsible for Wolves’ next effort, a 30-yard free kick in the 44th minute after Rowe had been fouled by Giuseppe Bellusci but his curling effort sailed a few inches over the angle of post and bar. In the second of the two minutes of time added on before half-time, Henry tested Silvestri with a low drive from 25 yards which the keeper just kept in play at the second attempt.

Wolves brought on Clarke at half-time for Edwards in a bid to shake things up. And the visitors certainly kept Leeds in check from the restart, bossing possession without being able to test Silvestri until the hour. That was when Dicko’s flying header had the keeper at full stretch to tip wide from Jacobs’s curling free kick. There were changes to both sides in the 64th minute when former Wolves target Luke Murphy replaced Mowatt and van La Parra came on for Jacobs. And Wolves gained their reward for their possession following the restart with an equaliser two minutes later. Matt Doherty crossed from the right and it seemed to be coming to nothing until Giuseppe Bellusci stuck out a leg and inadvertedly diverted it into the path of Henry, who belted the ball home from close range. Wolves continued to control possession and van La Parra somehow failed to find the net at the far post, instead kneeing it wide from Henry’s cross on 74 minutes. But Jackett’s side weren’t finished and they scored a second goal when Clarke tapped home at the far post to send the 2,000-plus Wolves fans wild. Jackett made his final substitution on 87 as he sought to protect their lead as Richard Stearman came on for Dicko to shore up the defence at a corner. And unlike at Millwall a week ago, he was allowed to get into position before the set-piece was taken as a succession of blocks met frantic Leeds shots. Wolves weathered the late storm with relative ease to take the points.

Beeb reported

Leeds are still looking for a first win under Darko Milanic as Wolves came from behind to win at Elland Road and go level on points with leaders Derby. Mirco Antenucci's crisp shot from just inside the box gave Leeds the lead in the first half. Wolves equalised when Giuseppe Bellusci failed to control in the box and winger James Henry finished from close range. Both sides pushed for a winner but Leon Clarke came off the bench to side-foot home from Matt Doherty's pass. The home side took the lead when Alex Mowatt's 50-yard floated ball found Steve Morison, making his first start for Leeds in 17 months, and he laid in his striker partner Antenucci to fire home his fourth of the season. Mowatt should have made it 2-0 shortly afterwards but he scuffed his shot with the goal gaping when laid in by the lively Morison. After few meaningful efforts before half-time, Wolves improved after the break with Nouha Dicko, Rajiv van La Parra and Clarke all going close. Their pressure was rewarded when Leeds centre-back Bellusci did not deal with a cross, and his attempted clearance fell to Henry, who drilled the ball into the roof of the net. Clarke, on as a half-time substitute for Dave Edwards, scored his first goal of the season as he finished off a flowing Wolves move inside the area. Kenny Jackett's side have now won back-to-back games and are third in the Championship table, only sitting outside the automatic promotion places on goal difference.

It was a welcome return for the Bakary Sako and Nouha Dicko show as Wolves ended a wobble by returning to winning ways. Sako and Dicko – the Mali combination that inspired a South Bank song and so many victories in the spring as Kenny Jackett’s side marched to the League One title – scored the goals as Wolves won for the first time in five attempts. They also kept their first clean sheet in six outings to end Middlesbrough’s seven-match unbeaten run in a highly satisfactory evening for Jackett’s side.

While Wolves bore all the hallmarks of a side who had conceded too many goals as they started tentatively in front of Molineux’s lowest league crowd of the season – 18,391 - it was a different story for the last half an hour. They doggedly pulled themselves clear in a game which like so many in the Championship, could have gone either way until the last 30 minutes. It ended by winning with a degree of comfort, as Boro’s fire had long since extinguished into the wintry Molineux air. Galvanised by the industry of James Henry and Dicko and the probing of a rejuvenated Kevin McDonald, Wolves never looked back once Dicko doubled the lead given to them by Sako’s 33rd-minute penalty. Early on there was a lack of conviction to some of their passing and ideas were thin on the ground going forward, but they could have blown away the tension while the bums were still landing on seats. There was just 86 seconds on the clock when Sako teased the defence in a jinking run before lashing wide from a good position in the area, after Dicko hassled Ryan Fredericks into losing the ball on halfway. From there, the game died a death in the cold October night until Sako re-ignited things for Wolves. Grant Leadbitter, who scored two long-range specials on his last visit to Molineux in March 2013, tested goalkeeper Carl Ikeme from over 30 yards with a free kick that required a falling save.

But Sako proved he could do the same with a set-piece from out wide that goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos tipped over in the 26th minute. Six minutes later came the penalty when Sako and Dicko combined brilliantly on the right, the former releasing the latter who drove into the area. He was pushed to the ground by former Wolves left-back George Friend for a clear penalty. Sako needed no further invitation. He showed the depth of his confidence that came with his seventh goal of the season and fourth in as many games by coolly dinking the ball over Konstantopoulos, who was left grasping thin air sprawling helplessly to his left. But just as they have done so often recently, Wolves looked nervous defending a lead as Boro seized the initiative with several chances before the break. Jelle Vossen’s chip hit the bar and Ikeme did well to smother, as Patrick Bamford slid in for the rebound. Then Boro peppered the Wolves goal with three shots in a matter of seconds as Vossen and Bamford twice saw their efforts met by two saves from Ikeme and a block from Ethan Ebanks-Landell. Boro weren’t finished and Ikeme was relieved when he gambled on half coming for Albert Adomah’s cross and caught Vossen’s free header.

The second-half started as the first – tentatively – with the only serious action a scare for Wolves on 49 after Ikeme dropped a cross from Fredericks on the line. But just before the hour, the home side suddenly bared their teeth and for the first time, looked as if they could go on and win. Dave Edwards sent a classic downward header against the post from Henry’s cross on 58 minutes, then McDonald twice went desperately close from 30 yards, both on the volley. This was Wolves’ best period of the game, but they had to try to retain their momentum without Sako. He was substituted in the 64th minute for Michael Jacobs, presumably to save him for Saturday after his recent international exertions caught up with him. He needn’t have worried as his mate Dicko took centre stage to score a superb second goal. McDonald threaded a ball through and there was a mistake which still left Dicko with an awful lot to do. But the pocket dynamo somehow bulldozed his way through challenges from Daniel Ayala and Fredericks before finding the roof of the net, as he drew Konstantopoulos, for his third league goal of the season. It was ultimately a deserved return to winning ways and it looked as if normal service had been resumed by Jackett’s side, especially after overcoming one of the Championship’s most fancied sides.

Beeb

Wolves moved into the Championship play-off places courtesy of a home victory over Middlesbrough. Kenny Jackett's side took the lead through a Bakary Sako penalty after the striker had been fouled in the box. Nouha Dicko's powerful run and superb finish into the roof of the net made it 2-0 with 17 minutes remaining. And Wolves, who threw away a three-goal lead at Millwall at the weekend, were not to be denied another win, which lifts them up to fourth in the table.

Danny Batth (23), Ethan Ebanks-Landell (61) and Bakary Sako (64) gave head coach Kenny Jackett what looked like a winning return to his old club, with all three goals coming from set-pieces. But Lee Gregory on 67 and a double from substitute and former Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller on 82 and a controversial equaliser on 87 minutes rescued a point for Ian Holloway’s side. Millwall centre-back Shaun Williams was shown a straight red card at the end of nine minutes of time added on at the end for bringing down clean-through Lee Evans, for which David Forde produced a brilliant save to keep out Sako’s free kick.

The result meant Wolves have drawn 3-3 in their last two away games, each time after being ahead, and have now conceded 11 goals in their last four games.

But Jackett’s side were furious at the award of Fuller’s second goal, with protests at the time and at the final whistle after a throw-in had been allowed to be taken while substitute Richard Stearman was still running into position. Jackett sprung a surprise by dropping two of his ever-present back four in response to leaking eight goals in three games. Stearman and Scott Golbourne made way for Ebanks-Landell and Evans in a move that saw Tommy Rowe move from midfield to left-back. Stearman was dropped after being at fault for goals in the last three matches but the decision to put Golbourne on the bench seemed harsh although he was partly at fault for Wigan’s second goal. Sako made the starting line-up despite only returning from international duty with Mali yesterday. Jackett was given a tremendous reception before kick-off from all four sides of the ground. But the same could not be said for Wolves substitute James Henry, who was booed when his name was announced. In a scrappy opening, the unmarked Scott McDonald had the first opening but he snatched at his first-time angled shot, which was high and wide after poor attempts at clearances from Sako and Batth. Williams was inches away with an audacious 50-yard free kick but Wolves silenced the noisy home crowd of 13,102 by taking the lead with their first attack. Sako’s corner was flicked on by Dave Edwards at the near post and Batth volleyed home at the far stick. Rather than spur on Wolves and deflate the home side, the opposite happened and the visitors were forced to mount a fierce rearguard action as Millwall caused them several anxious moments. Carl Ikeme was forced to tip wide from Martyn Woolford’s long-range drive on 24 minutes and from the resulting corner, the keeper tipped wide the inswinging kick from former Albion midfielder Richard Chaplow on the line. Two minutes later, Jimmy Abdou was presented with an excellent chance when Gregory squared to him unmarked on the run but he sidefooted horribly wide with only Ikeme ahead of him. Millwall had plenty more possession but apart from a penalty appeal, there was little to trouble Jackett’s side. Doherty had both eyes on making the clearance when he sent Gregory tumbling with his momentum and Millwall fans howled for a spot kick. But referee Darren Drysdale wasn’t to be moved and waved play on.

Millwall had the first chance of the second half as Scott McDonald headed against the post from Gregory’s cross on 51 minutes. Wolves however made them pay in ruthless fashion as they doubled their lead from another set-piece then grabbed a third, all in the space of three minutes. Henry curled in a free kick, Fuller headed against his own post and Ebanks-Landell reacted quickest to stab home the loose ball. Wolves fans were in dreamland soon after when after Henry won a free kick when he was brought down by Matthew Briggs just inside the right-hand touchline. Sako brilliantly curled home the set-piece into the far top corner, giving Forde no chance and Wolves a seemingly unassailable 3-0 lead. But if Wolves thought they were home and dry, they had another think coming.

Gregory reduced the arrears with a calmly taken effort, beating Ikeme after making light of Batth committing himself from just inside the area. Then Fuller crashed home a volley off the underside of the bar after substitute former Wolves man Scott Malone crossed and Scott McDonald headed the ball back at the far post. Worse was to follow for the visitors when seconds after Stearman replaced Ebanks-Landell, Fuller lashed home inside Ikeme’s near post with Wolves furious with the decision. The referee had a long chat with his assistant before awarding the goal. Williams was sent off for sending Evans crashing as last man but Forde did brilliantly to turn aside Sako’s stinging free kick.

Moments later – and after nine minutes of time added on - the final whistle sounded with Millwall not surprisingly greeting it as if they had won.

Wolves were left to lick their wounds again and will look to show a defensive improvement with the visit of Middlesbrough on Tuesday.

Beeb

Substitute Ricardo Fuller scored twice as Millwall fought back from 3-0 down to claim a point against Wolves.

The visitors took the lead when Danny Batth volleyed in Bakary Sako's corner. Defender Ethan Ebanks-Landell poked in Wolves' second following a goalmouth scramble before Sako made it 3-0 with a stunning free-kick. Lee Gregory pulled one back with a cool finish and veteran striker Fuller twice fired in to level before home defender Shaun Williams was sent off late on. Wolves head coach Kenny Jackett, who had almost six seasons in charge of Millwall, was given a warm reception on his first return to The Den since resigning as manager in May 2013. And he had early reason to celebrate when Dave Edwards flicked on Sako's corner and Batth volleyed in his second goal of the season from 10 yards. Scott McDonald went closest to a Millwall equaliser when he headed a Gregory cross against the post. Instead, Wolves doubled their lead when substitute James Henry's free-kick was headed against the post by Fuller and Ebanks-Landell, making his first league start of the season, turned it in. Sako found the top corner of the net with his free-kick from the right touchline to seemingly wrap up the points but Gregory immediately held off the challenge of Batth to finish smartly and pull one back. Fuller made it 3-2 when he met a cushioned McDonald header and fired home. And he capped the comeback when he turned well inside the Wolves box and shot past keeper Carl Ikeme. Williams was dismissed in the last of eight minutes of stoppage time for bringing down Lee Evans, and Millwall keeper David Forde ensured his side a point with a fine save from Sako's 20-yard free-kick.

Leaky Wolves

Having conceded only three goals in their first eight Championship games this season, Wolves have now let in 11 in their last four.

Wolves had to settle for a point after launching a fierce second-half comeback against Wigan at Molineux today.

Dave Edwards said, speaking after the game to www.wolves.co.uk : "My grandad passed away last week and we're a very close family, it was a little bit sudden as well, so my mum, my brother and my sister have been very upset. I kind of knew I was going to score, it was one of those moments that you knew was coming and there was someone looking over me today. I believe that happened today for a reason. It's a great cross and, like my goal against Norwich, I don't really have to do that much with it. Because the pace is on the ball all I have to go is glance it and there's enough pace on it to go past the 'keeper. I had a couple of other chances and I'm disappointed not to score two goals but I'm just happy to keep my goalscoring run going."

Read more at http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/20141004-edwards-post-wigan-1989205.aspx#pZyyfdTpV3AkDKo5.99

The recalled Dave Edwards headed Kenny Jackett’s side into a 30th-minute lead, but the hosts still found themselves trailing at the break for the third game in a row. More defensive errors saw James Perch (32) and former Albion man Marc-Antoine Fortune in the second minute of time added on before half-time score for the visitors. Man of the Match Bakary Sako’s fifth goal of the season rescued a deserved point for Wolves in the 64th minute after twice going close after the restart, before the late siege saw Matt Doherty head against the bar. Head coach Jackett made four changes to the line-up beaten 3-1 by Huddersfield on Wednesday night. Doherty, Tommy Rowe, Rajiv van La Parra and Edwards replaced Sam Ricketts, Lee Evans, James Henry and Yannick Sagbo. Doherty returned after missing the midweek defeat with an ankle injury, Rowe was making his first start in for the injured Evans. Henry and Sagbo were on the bench, where they were joined by Michael Jacobs, who failed to make the match-day 18 in two of the last three games. It was the turn of club captain Ricketts to miss out of the squad today. Wigan’s £3million signing Andy Delort was dropped to the bench as Fortune – one of three ex-Baggies in the Latics line-up with goalkeeper Scott Carson and defender Leon Barnett - was recalled. The game got off to a slow, tentative start with goalmouth action at a premium for the first half an hour – but for the third game in a row, Wolves found themselves trailing at the break. They took the lead with the first real chance of the game on 30 minutes as Edwards headed home his second goal of the season, arriving late in the box unmarked to glance Van La Parra’s cross beyond the outstretched fingers of Carson. But it was short-lived as Wigan equalised almost immediately. The unmarked Perch headed firmly into the roof of the net from Shaun Maloney’s free kick after Richard Stearman conceded a free kick on Fortune on the right. The goals lifted the tempo to the game and it was Wolves who looked like they were going to grab more goals. Former Wigan reserve Nouha Dicko had a tight-angled drive tipped away by Carson on 33 then the same player headed wide from van La Parra’s corner at the far post five minutes later. Five minutes before the break, Dicko tried to bend one past Carson but only succeeded in hitting it straight at the former England international. And Wolves were made to pay for their misses in the second minute of time added on when Wigan snatched the lead. Stearman missed Andrew Taylor’s cross from the left and Scott Golbourne failed to get in a block as Fortune controlled and finished with a close-range shot high into the net. Sako, who was praised by Jackett for setting the example for others to follow, was looking as lively as any Wolves player in an otherwise fairly flat opening to the second period. And he set himself up for two chances within the first 15 minutes of the restart. First he lashed into the side-netting after a reverse pass from Dicko gave him a sight of goal from a tight angle. Then he battled his way through to get a shot in only for Carson to block just inside the area. Sako wasn’t finished there though, and, after Van La Parra made way for Henry on the hour when he opted to shoot poorly with four players ahrad of him, he dragged Wolves level to reward mounting pressure from the home side. It wasn’t the tidiest goal as Edwards dummied Golbourne’s corner and Matt Doherty missed his kick but Sako was coolness personified as he curled it into the bottom corner, leaving Carson rooted to the spot. It was his fifth goal of the season and second in a week. Roared on by an enthusiastic crowd, Wolves piled forward and Henry saw a shot deflected inches away on 86. And, when his resulting corner was flicked on, Doherty’s header crashed off the bar. Wolves brought on Sagbo for Dicko in the second of the four minutes of time added on at the end. But the new loan signing from Hull couldn’t find the winner Wolves worked themselves into a head of steam to get.

Beeb

Wigan's winless run was extended to six games as Bakary Sako rescued a point for Wolves at Molineux. Dave Edwards was unmarked as he headed Wolves in front from Rajiv van La Parra's cross. The Latics were level two minutes later when James Perch headed in from close range before Marc-Antoine Fortune put the visitors ahead right on half-time. But Mali international Sako struck from the edge of the area after James Henry had missed Scott Golbourne's corner. The point means Wolves stay one spot outside the play-off places on goal difference, while Wigan are just three points and one place above the relegation zone. There were few chances in the opening period of the game until Edwards got the first goal. The Welsh international, who was recalled to the starting line-up after being on the bench for the last two games, found himself unmarked 12 yards out and coolly headed home van La Parra's ball into the box. And the poor defending continued two minutes later as former Newcastle defender Perch rose above a static Wolves defence to nod in Shaun Maloney's free-kick from two yards out.

Post match: Wigan boss Uwe Rosler on Wolves draw

The goal galvanised the visitors, who took control of the game, as Andrew Taylor whipped in a cross that left which evaded two Wolves defenders and found Fortune, who fired a rising drive past Carl Ikeme.

Wolves began the second half stronger and former Wigan striker Nouha Dicko and Sako both went close before Sako got the equaliser.

Henry took a swing at Golbourne's corner from the left and missed the ball before it ran to Sako, who side-footed home from the edge of the area through a crowded goalmouth.

Wolves searched for a winner as Scott Carson tipped away an Edwards header, while Matt Doherty headed against the bar in the 87th minute.

Wolves manager Kenny Jackett: "I think (with regard to Sako) that is the case with any player. If someone is very, very good in the Championship then they are vulnerable to the next set of clubs going forward.

"Gareth Bale still got bought by Real Madrid. There is always somebody that can do well enough for the next set of clubs to take them. But it is not something that we want. We are happy with him here and long may it continue."

Wigan manager Uwe Rosler: "This is a difficult place to come and we had a game plan that worked well.

"I think we frustrated them in many ways. But when won the ball we weren't as good as we can be. The first goal should not be conceded at our level but we responded very well. Overall I would say it is a fair point."

Wigan's winless run

Wigan have won just twice all season, against fellow strugglers Blackpool (1-0) and Birmingham City (4-0).

They have won none of their last six games, drawing three and losing three.

They began the season with a draw and two losses in the Championship, as well as losing 2-1 at League Two side Burton in the League Cup.

LINEUP, BOOKINGS (6) & SUBS (5)

Wolverhampton Wanderers

01 Ikeme

02 Doherty

06 Batth Booked

05 Stearman

03 Golbourne

17 van La Parra (Henry - 60' )

11 McDonald

04 Edwards

15 Rowe

10 Sako Booked

40 Dicko (Sagbo - 92' )

Substitutes

07 Henry

08 Saville

09 Clarke

12 Sagbo

13 McCarey

23 Ebanks-Landell

27 Jacobs

Wigan Athletic

01 Carson

24 Perch

04 Ramis Booked

25 Barnett

03 Taylor

19 Cowie

14 Huws Booked

36 Kvist Booked (Forshaw - 57' )

11 McClean (McManaman - 84' Booked )

10 Maloney

32 Fortuné (Delort - 74' )

Substitutes

02 Tavernier

09 Riera Magem

15 McManaman

26 Al-Habsi

29 Forshaw

30 Kiernan

49 Delort

Ref: Andy Davies

Att: 21,288

MATCH STATS

90mins

Wolverhampton Wanderers Wigan Athletic

Possession 66% 34%

Shots 18 10

On target 7 3

Corners 10 2

Fouls 17 11

Wolves 1 Huddersfield 3

A chance to go top after the Tuesday night results with new signing Yannick Sagbo was blown, with little vision shown and Nouha Dicko's efforts up front really not exploited. Slow movement and defence terrorised by Grant Holt and the terriers

If Sunday was an awakening for Wolves, then this was a 45-minute nightmare from which there would be no recovery and if anything could go wrong tonight, it did as their proud 16-match unbeaten home record – their longest since 21 from March 1988 to March 1989 – came to an end in chaotic fashion. From fit-again Sam Ricketts hitting the post in the sixth minute to Nouha Dicko hitting goalkeeper Alex Smithies’ legs to Richard Stearman being out-muscled in the build-up to the first goal then Danny Batth deflecting Sean Scannell’s shot in for the second, it seemed nothing went right for Kenny Jackett’s side. Shots were ballooned off target (Yannick Sagbo, Bakary Sako) and passes went astray (Kevin McDonald). From a confident-looking, fast, fluent and fluid side who really took the game to the Terriers early on, Wolves were gradually reduced to an error-ridden team who could barely put one foot in front of the other by half-time. The crowd recognised this as what will hopefully turn out to be a blip as they responded by thundering ‘Kenny Jackett’s barmy army’ and ‘Wanderers we love you’ at the death on a night they could have gone top of the table. By contrast, Huddersfield grew in confidence once they got their noses in front against the run of play and never looked back. Perhaps the stay-aways in the disappointing crowd of 19,059 – Wolves’ lowest since March – knew something the rest of us didn’t. And it was the visitors who ended the half on top with a two-goal cushion and seemingly out of sight. The one player who showed most willing by this point was the recalled Dicko. Time and again he looked to ‘roll’ his marker with his considerable strength to put either himself or team-mates in on goal. After Ricketts cut inside with a trademark run only to strike the base of the post in the sixth minute, Dicko was put through by McDonald only to see his shot cannon off Smithies’s legs. Debutant Sagbo, who played at the head of the midfield in the 4-2-3-1 formation, ballooned high over the bar in their next chance. And, with a quarter of an hour gone, Wolves looked well set for what has become a trademark dominant home half. But all that unravelled five minutes later when Harry Bunn prodded home Grant Holt’s cross, after the on-loan Villa striker used his burly size to budge past Richard Stearman. It was the second game in a row Stearman has been beaten for a goal, after being brushed off by Michael Hector for Reading’s first on Sunday. The goal rocked Wolves and robbed them of their fluency and Jacob Butterfield dispossessed McDonald before racing away and exchanging passes before testing Ikeme with a low shot that forced a diving save. Then it got worse as Huddersfield doubled their lead to punish a catalogue of errors. Bakary Sako, Sagbo and Scott Golbourne all missed the chance to clear before the ball arrived at the feet of Scannell, whose angled shot was going wide or was certainly covered by the diving Ikeme, before it took a wicked deflection off the sliding Batth. It was also the second game in a row that a goal has deflected off the Brierley Hill stopper, after Glenn Murray’s wonder strike came off him at Reading. The South Bank roared the team off at half-time in the anticipation of a comeback. But their hopes seemed shortlived when Huddersfield made it 3-0 six minutes after the break .This time there could be no complaints as Conor Coady let rip with a peach of a curling shot that ripped into the top corner from 25 yards. Wolves eventually responded through Sako, who bundled his way through before poking the ball through Smithies’ legs on 71 to give the hosts hope after Dicko flicked on. But it was a bridge too far for Wolves on this occasion as they were made to pay heavily for their mistakes. Batth headed on top of the bar and Sako was inches away with a curler but too many players

weren’t quite at it on the night.

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP

Venue: Molineux Date: Wednesday, 1 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Coverage: BBC local radio and text commentary on the BBC Sport website

Huddersfield Town earned a surprise win away at Wolves to stop the hosts going top of the Championship. First-half goals against the run of play from Harry Bunn and Sean Scannell gave the Terriers a 2-0 lead at half-time before Conor Coady's 30-yard stunner on 51 minutes made it 3-0. Although Bakary Sako pulled one back on 71 minutes, Wolves suffered a first home league defeat since December. Huddersfield's second win in four days lifts them to 18th with Wolves seventh. Wolves made a positive start to the game, ripping through Huddersfield's defence. Right-back Sam Ricketts hit the right post, Nouha Dicko was denied by keeper Alex Smithies and Molineux debutant Yannick Sagbo ballooned over. But it was the visitors who took the lead through Bunn. Grant Holt, making his full debut for the Terriers, beat defender Richard Stearman before

cutting back for Bunn whose volley flew through the grasp of Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme. And within 18 minutes Huddersfield doubled their advantage when Scannell pounced on a loose ball inside the box before firing a powerful blow. Wolves needed a quick response at half-time, but it was the visitors who found their feet the quickest. Jacob Butterfield had already tested Ikeme with a well struck low shot to the keeper's right. But it was Coady's stunning effort from distance that made it 3-0. The former Liverpool youngster curled a beautifully-struck shot with his right foot into Ikeme's top-left corner. Sako eventually gave hope on 71 minutes when he drilled home from close range but, despite a few anxious moments for the visiting fans, there was no further way through.

Wolves head coach Kenny Jackett told BBC WM:

"We started the game well, hit the post, had a string of chances and looked in control. But when they scored, I was disappointed with our response. We looked shell-shocked. We looked stunned and disjointed. Whether we deserved to be behind or not does not really matter. It took us too long to come back from that and we didn't look like we had enough hunger in midfield."

Huddersfield Town manager Chris Powell told BBC Radio Leeds:

"Apart from the way we started, we were good value and got our game plan right. I'm very proud of my players. Grant Holt showed that he can make a difference. He played a big part in the first goal and kept their two centre-halves quiet all night. Our two wide players both scored and Conor Coady played like an experienced midfielder - and capped it with a great goal."

Preview Wolves v Huddersfield

Huddersfield are unbeaten in the last 11 meetings with Wolves, of which they have now won the last seven.

Wolves have not triumphed in this fixture since Steve Froggatt and Steve Bull scored in a 2-0 win at Huddersfield in the old Division One in February 1997.

Still not top of the pile

Wolves have not topped the Championship since going up as title winners under Mick McCarthy in 2009.

Wolves and Reading scored five second-half goals as the crowd inside the Madejski Stadium were treated to a Championship thriller.

Reading took the lead in the first half when Michael Hector headed in Oliver Norwood's delivery. Four second half-minutes saw James Henry sidefoot in and Lee Evans thrash home to put Wolves in front, before Jake Taylor slotted in an equaliser. Dave Edwards headed Wolves ahead again, before Glenn Murray's late leveller. No doubt visiting manager Kenny Jackett will rue not being able to hold on for the win after re-taking the lead, and having fought back so well after the interval. Victory would have seen them join Norwich at the top of the table, but instead they are two points off top spot. The Royals move up one place to 11th, but they showed enough quality in attack to suggest they will finish the season higher.

Ex- Wolves & Reading player Mick Gooding on BBC Radio Berkshire:

"Kenny Jackett will be delighted his team has scored three, but at 3-2 up Wolves had a short corner and got it wrong. They were trying to play the clock down but within a minute Reading had gone down the other end and scored the equaliser. They should have gone for the fourth because they were in the ascendancy. But it was a great game of football."

The pattern of play in the first half gave no indication as to what was to follow. There were only three clear-cut chances, with two coming inside the first 10 minutes.

Wolves midfielder George Saville's shot was saved by the legs of Adam Federici, before Reading's Simon Cox flicked a header wide at the other end.

The Royals opened the scoring when defender Hector, who has been on loan at 11 clubs since starting his senior career in 2009, bulleted a header just inside the near post from Norwood's cross.

Both defences had looked sturdy, with Wolves' record of just three goals conceded in eight games the best in England. But it was a very different display from both sides after the break.

In the 51st minute, Wolves equalised when Henry opened up his boot to sidefoot home Bakary Sako's fizzing cross, before Evans made in 2-1 after Jordan Obita's terrible attempt at a clearance landed in his path.

It was a sensational turnaround, but there was to be a further twist. Straight from the kick-off, Cox surged forward and played in Taylor, who coolly slotted past keeper Carl Ikeme.

Wolves retook the lead with six minutes remaining when substitute Edwards flicked in. Referee James Adcock paused before giving a goal after his assistant declared the ball had fully crossed the line.

But with a minute of normal time remaining, striker Murray, who had a quiet game, launched a fierce effort from the edge of the area that took a deflection off Danny Batth en route to the top corner.

Reading manager Nigel Adkins:

"We have played against a good side in Wolves. They are good in possession and had only conceded three goals this season. We responded well to get back in the game having gone behind so it's credit to the players. It was a good game of football, good entertainment on a hot day."

Wolves manager Kenny Jackett:

"When you've just scored you can't let a goal in straight away. We need to play with that heart and spirit and quality and then learn our lessons defensively. It was end to end, both sides attacked right to the death and for us it's an awakening to the Championship. A lot of games in the Championship can go either way and you have to get the detail right to make the difference.

For a team that doesn’t concede and fails to score enough, Wolves upset the form-book on both counts.

To have gained a point from this encounter was perhaps beyond even the most optimistic Wolves fan at half-time. And to have been involved in a six-goal thriller and come within six minutes of an unlikely win looked the last thing on the cards, after an awful first-half performance from Kenny Jackett’s side. But it shows all those cliche-ridden qualities such as resilience and character of the players. They were firstly able to claw themselves back into it, and then to give themselves the chance of winning it to achieve their third successive away draw. And to have finished so strongly augurs well as they prepare for two home games this week. hat they scored three goals without Nouha Dicko was a surprise in itself after they looked toothless for the first 50 minutes. But as they showed on countless occasions in League One last season, this isn’t a Wolves side that relies on one man for goals. Jackett told us in the week leading up to the game that several players were ready to start finding the net. And what better day could James Henry have for his Reading return than to equalise? Or Lee Evans, who has threatened so much recently, to follow him in opening his account for the season? Wolves had a glorious chance to open the scoring after five minutes. Leon Clarke, who was selected ahead of Liam McAlinden for the lone striker role, put George Saville through on goal. But with only the goalkeeper to beat, the midfielder’s shot was blocked by Adam Federici, and Lee Evans, who started the first-time passing move, half volleyed the follow-up inches over from the edge of the box. That was as good as it got for Wolves in probably their worst 45 minutes of the season. They just seemed very lacklustre and couldn’t get going, especially after trailing in the 18th minute. The warning bells were sounded five minutes earlier when former Albion striker Simon Cox sent a twisting header just wide from a Jordan Obita free kick. A minute later, Reading advanced menacingly again and Cox slipped in the unmarked Glenn Murray to his right and the on-loan Crystal Palace striker could only blaze high and wide from a slight angle. Then came the goal Reading had been threatening, when Wolves were too slow to close down a short corner worked. Obita and play-maker Oliver Norwood, who crossed to the near post, where Michael Hector showed strength to hold off fellow centre-back Richard Stearman far too easily to bullet a header in at Carl Ikeme’s near post. It was only the fourth goal Wolves had conceded all season, but the way they were playing, it was a surprise they hadn’t leaked more. Murray punished more slack marking in the 24th minute to rattle the advertising boards behind Ikeme’s goal when he was a fraction wide from 25 yards. And with the spaces opening up worryingly again for Wolves, Hope Akpan drilled wide from a good position in the box heavily populated by Reading players after a break down the left. Murray might not have scored during the first period but in his strength, movement and danger, he showed what Wolves were missing in the absence of Nouha Dicko. Wolves showed they can provide the right service towards the end of the half, when James Henry whipped in a couple of dangerous centres from the right. But Clarke just couldn’t quite get there to apply the finish.

If Wolves lacked the spark in the first half, they certainly burst into life at the start of the second. Three goals in five breathless minutes followed as the vistors awoke with a start and launched themselves fully into this game. First Oliver Norwood was inches away with a swerving effort from long range after an uncharacteristically poor pass from Kevin McDonald. But then came the Wolves comeback. Bakary Sako made all the running down the left before cutting inside and crossing from the byeline. And although Clarke couldn’t get there, former Reading wide man Henry made no mistake, firing high into the roof of the net from six yards out for the 50th-minute equaliser and his first goal of the season. Four minutes later, Wolves were ahead when Evans, who was always looking to push on in the ‘No 10’ role. He punished an awful attempted clearance by Obika when he controlled the ball before netting his first of the campaign with a neat left-footed volley. Matt Doherty had been at the heart of a full throttle Wolves move in a performance which was fast making a mockery of their first-half display. But in a breathless spell the celebrations were still going on when Reading cut them short by hauling themselves level. Wolves always seemed a man short defensively as Reading swept play upfield and Danny Batth was left with the odd man as the final pass found Jake Taylor to sweep home under Ikeme.

Jackett talks continually about the importance and timing of substitutions. And at a time when the game had hit a lull and his own side were struggling for energy and ideas, the head coach made three that breathed fresh life into Wolves. Dave Edwards, who replaced Saville in the 77th minute, couldn’t have done much more when he glanced home Sako’s corner, replays showing the ball crossed the line by about a foot before it was cleared. But the action wasn’t over and when Murray latched onto a loose ball some 25 yards out, he launched a glorious shot that took a deflection before finding the top corner of the net, giving Ikeme no chance. It was little more than Reading deserved after dominating the first half, and although they must have dared to dream of victory, Wolves could be happy with a point.

Wolves returned to winning ways with a determined and deserved victory over old bogey side Bolton.

Nouha Dicko’s 41st-minute goal and second of the season was the difference but on a day when Lee Evans was superb, Wolves were indebted to keeper Carl Ikeme. The keeper saved Owen Garvan’s 58th-minute penalty and his follow-up while also denying Liam Feeney late on to lay claim to the man of the match award with Evans.

Watched by Molineux's biggest gate of the season - 22,695 - Wolves’ fifth victory in eight and fourth by a 1-0 scoreline saw them retain their 100 per cent home record and put them back up to third in the Championship and a point off the top. But it was a real game of two halves as Wolves dominated the first period only to struggle to sustain the tempo after the break after Dicko went off injured. Jackett made two changes to the line-up that drew 1-1 at Charlton on Tuesday night. Back came Dave Edwards and Dicko at the expense of George Saville and Leon Clarke, who both dropped to the bench. The big surprise among the substitutes was the absence of Michael Jacobs from the 18 after being a regular since his arrival from Derby last November. It’s understood the attacking midfielder hasn’t picked up an injury. When the action got underway, Wolves, seeking their first win against Bolton in eight attempts, took a while to get going but were soon the dominant side to the extent where Bolton were booed off at the break by their 1,000-strong following. Although they were the side very much in control, Wolves had a scare after just 22 seconds. A loose ball after Craig Davies’s cross had been deflected from the left found its way to Garvan ahead of Edwards and the midfielder’s fierce effort from 25 yards flew narrowly wide. But led by a superb passing display from Evans, Wolves quickly asserted themselves. The Wales Under-21 international was presented with the first half chance for Wolves but could only lash high and wide on his unfavoured left foot as the space opened up in front of him from 25 yards in the third minute. Captain Danny Batth went closest to breaking the deadlock before the goal however when his header from James Henry’s corner was tipped over by keeper Andy Lonergan in the 18th minute. Bolton’s only other real chance of the first period came 60 seconds later when Richard Stearman appeared to commit himself early upfield, leaving Craig Davies temporarily unmarked behind him, but when Joe Mason squared the ball to him, the former Wolves striker could only sidefoot it straight at Ikeme. But with Evans orchestrating things in middle, Wolves soon returned to the attack. And the 20-year-old had Molineux on its feet in the 23rd minute when he went desperately close from just inside the box, his vicious first-time drive whistling inches past the near post from a loose ball. Wolves continued on the offensive and 10 minutes later, Dicko turned the ball into the sidenetting from in front of goal from Bakary Sako’s cross.

But four minutes before the break, Wolves got the goal their play deserved. Matt Doherty’s cross was deflected and looped up high in the air, and with Lonergan failing to act decisively, Dicko found the opposite corner of the net with a deft header for his second goal of the season. That was the last of the action for Dicko, who was seen limping just before the break and went off at half-time to be replaced by Clarke.

Wolves didn’t allow the disruption to affect them however as Henry found Scott Golbourne steaming in at the back post for a downward header that was blocked near the line then cleared for a corner. Bolton made their first change in the 55th minute when Craig Davies was replaced by Jermaine Beckford. And it was Beckford who played a pivotal role in what left Wolves in danger of wasting all their good work three minutes later. They conceded a penalty after Batth caught Beckford late with a tackle in the box. It was the second successive home game that the skipper has conceded a spot-kick after he brought down Jordan Rhodes against Blackburn. But unlike that game, Ikeme produced a heroic double save to twice foil the taker Garvan and save Batth’s blushes. Wolves introduced their two other substitutes with Saville and Tommy Rowe replacing Edwards and Henry. And after making the running for so long, the home side struggled to continue to pin Bolton back. In fact it was the visitors who finished stronger as Ikeme brilliantly denied Feeney with a one-handed save after a pass inside Doherty left him in on goal. Seconds later, the ball reached sub Neil Danns on the edge of the six-yard box but he could only sidefoot straight at Ikeme. But in the end, Wolves weathered the storm with something to spare to make it five wins from their first eight games – and still only three goals conceded.

BBC

Striker Nouha Dicko's first-half header gave Wolves all three points against struggling Bolton Wanderers at Molineux. The hosts went in front just before the interval when Dicko nodded his third of the season from Matt Doherty's cross. Bolton were awarded a penalty in the second half when Danny Batth was judged to have brought down Jermaine Beckford. But Carl Ikeme pulled off a double save, denying Owen Garvan's spot-kick before saving his follow-up effort. Wolves, now unbeaten in six matches, recorded their first win against Bolton since 2009 and only their second in 14 encounters. Bolton, meanwhile, have now lost all of their away matches this season. Craig Davies went close to giving Bolton the lead early on, but was denied by an impressive Ikeme save. Lee Evans then unleashed a fierce drive that flew just wide for Wolves, who were denied a penalty when Dicko went down under challenge from Dean Moxey in the box but the referee played on. The deadlock was nearly broken on the half-hour mark, but both Evans' shot and Bakary Sako's rebound were cleared away by the Bolton defence. But Wolves were rewarded before the break when Bolton keeper Andy Lonergan was unable to do anything about Dicko's well-placed header. Bolton enjoyed a better spell at the beginning of the second half, with Jay Spearing's free-kick saved by Ikeme. But Dougie Freedman's side struggled to carve out chances after Garvan's penalty miss and Wolves held out comfortably for the three points.

Wolves manager Kenny Jackett: "I thought in the first half we were very good. After that it was all Bolton and my keeper made two vital saves - one from the penalty spot and another when Liam Feeney was through on goal. But we are pleased with the result and also we know that you have to give the opposition some credit. It is not easy to win games in the Championship."

Freedman on Wolves v Bolton

Bolton manager Dougie Freedman: "We felt we defended very well in the first half but the wind was taken out of our sails when Wolves scored. It demotivated us at half-time but I felt we regrouped and the game came down to two moments. They took their chance and we missed the penalty. It was a poor penalty. I liked his confidence to go up and take it but it was a disappointing penalty."

LINEUP, BOOKINGS (2) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)

Wolverhampton Wanderers

01 Ikeme

05 Stearman

02 Doherty

06 Batth Booked

03 Golbourne

10 Sako

11 McDonald

07 Henry (Rowe - 77' )

14 Evans

40 Dicko (Clarke - 45' )

04 Edwards (Saville - 66' )

Substitutes

08 Saville

09 Clarke

13 McCarey

15 Rowe

17 van La Parra

18 Ricketts

20 McAlinden

Bolton Wanderers

24 Lonergan

04 Mills

03 Moxey

14 Dervite

05 Ream

19 Garvan (Davies - 64' Booked )

06 Spearing

07 Feeney

09 Mason (Danns - 70' )

27 Lee Chung-yong

28 Davies (Beckford - 56' )

Substitutes

02 McNaughton

10 Beckford

13 Kenny

16 Davies

18 Danns

21 Pratley

44 Kamara

Ref: Andy Madley

Att: 22,695

MATCH STATS

90mins

Wolverhampton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers

Possession 59% 59%

Shots 15 11

On target 6 5

Corners 9 7

Fouls 5 11

Charlton 1 Bikey Amougou 25′ Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 Batth 65′

There is little truth in saying that Clarke is a disaster waiting to happen - still can’t score and wasted 2 points.

Wolves showed their true mettle tonight to come from behind and push Charlton all the way in breathless battle at the Valley.

After being below par at Blackpool on Saturday, head coach Kenny Jackett rang the changes to huge effect. His players responded with a massive performance full of hunger and desire, and no little quality that put the Addicks on the back foot for much of the contest. Make no mistake Charlton look like being one of the best sides in the Championship this season. Wolves trailed to Andre Bikey’s 25th-minute opener but both before and after that opener, they could and should have scored the goals to have made it five wins this season. In the end, they had to settle for a draw, but there was no doubting who ended the game in the more positive frame of mind. The introduction of Nouha Dicko for George Saville at half-time saw to it that every lost cause was chased and the effect seemed to rub off on his team-mates, who swarmed forward at a turbo-charged tempo at every opportunity. Credit to Jackett for making the four changes last night as he sought to rid the team of any tiredness lingering from Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Blackpool. Back came Lee Evans and Bakary Sako, after failing to make the starting line-up at Bloomfield Road. There were first Championship starts of the season for James Henry and Leon Clarke at the expense of Dave Edwards, Michael Jacobs, Rajiv van La Parra and Dicko, who all dropped to the bench. Wolves started with a hunger, purpose and desire and were the busier side in the first half and they were slightly unfortunate to be behind at the break. The visitors were given an early scare when livewire striker George Tucudean headed wide from Jordan Cousins’s cross. The same player drilled wide from the edge of the box after some sloppy play on the left. But Wolves soon found their feet and Henry had goalkeeper Stephen Henderson frantically backpedalling and tipping the ball over from Henry’s overhead kick. Tal Ben Haim was forced to usher the ball into his own sidenetting under pressure from Sako, whose right-foot shot was too close to Henderson. Evans flashed a 25-yarder inches wide as Wolves looked to make their possession count. But somewhat against the run of play, Charlton took the lead in the 25th minute. Bikey sidefooted home on the volley from Cousins’s corner for his first goal for the Addicks. Two minutes later it was almost 2-0 as five-goal striker and Championship player of the month Igor Vetokele teed up Tucudean but he rolled his shot just wide. Wolves settled down and in an end-to-end first period, they should have equalised. Clarke punished the off-balance Tal Ben Haim to steal in on the left and pick out George Saville. The former Chelsea youngster’s first-time shot hit the inside of the post, rolled behind goalkeeper Henderson and bounced to safety on the opposite side of the goal. Buoyed again, Evans again let fly from long distance only for the same outcome for Wolves. Jackett made a half-time substitution to get his side back into the game with the arrival of Dicko for Saville. Wolves started the second half in positive fashion and after Dicko headed from an acute angle, Sako’s right-foot shot was tipped over. But the visitors were left kicking themselves when two more openings went begging. Both involved the unfortunate Clarke, who first fired across goal and wide from a ridiculous angle with Sako screaming for the ball to his right. Then Clarke was presented with a much simpler chance from a central position from Dicko’s cross, but he missed his kick. But the goal Wolves had been threatening all game finally came in the 65th minute. From their 11th corner of the night, Danny Batth rose highest to a corner to bury a downward header that seemed to go through several bodies and pairs of legs before nestling in the corner of the net. The goal gave Wolves fresh impetus and the tireless Henry crashed a shot against the outside of the post as they pressed for the winner. Wolves, boosted by the arrival of Edwards for Clarke and Jacobs for Henry, continued to push the harder for the winner but it wouldn’t come. Yet it was another hugely positive display from Jackett’s side which should give plenty of optimism for the months ahead.

BBC

Danny Batth's second-half equaliser (Gety pic) earned Wolverhampton Wanderers a point at Charlton. Andre Bikey-Amougou's volley put the hosts ahead in the first half and George

Tucudean almost made it 2-0 soon after, but shot just wide. However, Wolves came into the game in the second half and deservedly levelled through Batth's header.

Wolves are fourth in the Championship with 14 points, with Charlton one place and one point behind. Under new manager Bob Peeters, Charlton have made a strong start to

the season, losing just once in all competitions. They started this game brightly, with Tucudean particularly lively as he glanced an early header wide before drilling a shot just

off target. Wolves soon improved, though, as James Henry's effort was tipped over by Stephen Henderson and then Tal Ben Haim almost scored an own goal when under

pressure from Wolves striker Bakary Sako. But just as Wolves were looking dangerous Charlton took the lead midway through the first half when Bikey-Amougou volleyed past

Carl Ikeme from Jordan Cousins' corner. Tucudean shot wide after being put through by Igor Vetokele, but Wolves picked themselves up to hit the post through George Saville.

In the second half the visitors picked up from where they had left off as Leon Clarke just failed to get on the end of Nouha Dicko's ball with the goal at his mercy.

Sako then saw his angled drive tipped behind by Henderson but Wolves finally got the equaliser their dominance deserved as Batth rose high to head home from a corner.

Both sides had chances in the closing stages, with Kevin McDonald's effort flying just over the bar for Wolves, before Johnnie Jackson failed to hit the target after being put

clear, but in the end a draw was a fair result.

Charlton manager Bob Peeters:

"It was a difficult game. In the first half at certain stages we did well and every time we broke I had a feeling we could score.

"We scored a good goal and we can kill the game in one minute. If Tucudean had finished that ball then we go 2-0 up and I think then it would be difficult."

Wolves manager Kenny Jackett:

"The overall performance of the team was very good and in the second half we had a great tempo.

"We passed the ball very well in the first half without having as much punch as we should have had. That changed after the break and we built up the tempo going towards

our own fans.

"You need to score when you are on top to win games and there is a degree of frustration for us, but promise for the season ahead as well."

Match facts

Wolves are unbeaten in the last five games, winning three. Their last defeat was 1-0 at Rotherham in the Championship on 16 August The draw was the first between these

two sides in their last four meetings Charlton's only defeat this season was 1-0 at Derby in the Capital One Cup on 26 August Danny Batth's goal was his first of the season

and only his fourth league goal for the club

Blackpool 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0

FT 90 +6

HT 0-0

13 September 2014

E&S Wolves had to settle for stalemate by the seaside as they drew a blank at basement side Blackpool.

Chances were few and far between but the best of them went to the Tangerines, who gained their first point of the season after five straight defeats. Nile Ranger hit the bar

and Tony McMahon the sidenetting in a spirited second-half showing for the home side. But it was a difficult day at the office for Wolves, who struggled to create clear-cut

chances and forced keeper Joe Lewis into just one serious save from an early Michael Jacobs header.

It was a performance which will again have fans crying out for Wolves to sign a striker, especially after Leicester boss Nigel Pearson appeared to indicate today that Chris

Wood won’t be allowed out on loan. After five Championship matches with the same team, head coach Kenny Jackett made his first changes of the league season as Lee

Evans and Bakary Sako made way for George Saville and Michael Jacobs. Evans and Sako were on the bench after playing two full games for Wales Under-21s and Mali

respectively over the international break, and there was no place for Tommy Rowe among the substitutes. Wolves, wearing their new white away shirts but with black shorts, kicked off and largely controlled a first half that was short on goalmouth action. The visitors forced seven corners in the first period – Blackpool had none – but they struggled to find a breakthrough despite dominating possession, with the home side hitting them on the break when they could. Former Villa reserve Nathan Delfouneso had the first opening in the 16th minute when he met a cross from Andrea Orlandi on the volley but the ball looped up and flew a foot over the far angle. Wolves’ first chance came seven minutes later when Jacobs rose superbly to meet Rajiv Van La Parra’s centre to force a fine diving save from Joe Lewis. There was a brief scare for Jackett’s side on the half hour when Nile Ranger threw himself at Joan Oriol’s centre from the left after a mazy run but the ball flew across the face of goal. Five minutes later the ball ricocheted off a Wolves head to divert the ball dangerously towards goal forcing Carl Ikeme to sprawl to his right to smother after a high ball into the box. Wolves continued to control possession and Van La Parra’s curling cross-cum-shot came back off the far post in the 37th minute, only to see the assistant’s flag go up for offside. Three minutes before the break, Wolves almost broke the deadlock through an unlikely source. Danny Batth stayed upfield following a corner and dragged a low drive from the edge of the box just wide.

The second half didn’t take long to liven up and right-back Tony McMahon found himself clean through with only Ikeme to beat after outmuscling Matt Doherty, but he could only sidefoot into the sidenetting to leave Wolves relieved at a defender’s finish. Wolves should have punished them on 55 when Dave Edwards rose highest to Jacobs’s

curling cross but he got his timing all wrong and the ball appeared to strike his neck before falling harmlessly wide. That was to prove Jacobs’s last piece of the action as

Wolves made a double substitution in the 55th minute as he and Van La Parra made way for Sako and Henry. The change had little immediate impact however as Blackpool

went desperately close to opening the scoring. Nile Ranger burst through the middle, took on Batth and beat him to leave himself with only Ikeme to beat. The former Newcastle striker lifted his shot over the keeper only to see the ball bounce back into the play off the bar. Sako positioned himself well to pick up a short pass after Wolves

seized on a loose ball in the Blackpool box but his fierce, falling volley was cut out by Peter Clarke. The Seasiders, buoyed by keeping Wolves out and by their fans’ support,

gained in spirit and confidence as the half wore on. And if any team looked like breaking the deadlock, it looked like it was going to be Blackpool.

BBC: Blackpool earned their first point of the season as they climbed off the bottom of the Championship in an entertaining goalless draw with Wolves.